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Arcadia: Cemented

349:10:21:11:45:40

"Somewhere out past the Gates, are documents. They are the key to breaking the cycle. To unlocking Arcadia's true purpose and your salvation. Find them. Find them and understand the path you must take. The world as you know it has ended. Everything you knew, everyone you loved is gone.

"Humanity's last hope rests within you. But remember that humanity is not defined by what shape you take. Remember that and take it with you into this safe haven. Make this the shining beacon of humanity. The lighthouse in the darkness. Stay strong. Stay alive. Survive."

Somewhere, a rooster crowed.

Finn grunted softly. He became aware that the piercing light that was searing his retinas did not come from the oddly lucid dream he was having. It came from the light that sprayed through the window cut into the strong, wooden walls between the large, green drapes with a soft, yellow floral pattern. He blinked away the tears that were quickly filling his eyes and rolled to his side.

Lying beside him was a rather handsome man. The rounded, clean shaven features looked fairly familiar but a few things were off. The dirty blonde hair he had grown so used to seeing had changed to jet black though it was still wavy and covered his ears. The hair matched the thick growths of body hair on his chest, arms and calves though. But something still felt... wrong.

It took Finn a second to realise what it was.

He was staring at a human.

"Holy shit!" he exclaimed.

Marv instantly woke, sitting up slightly and glancing from left to right while muttering 'Whuzzat?' Then his blue eyes settled on Finn and like him, he let out a cry of surprise.

"You're human!" Finn exclaimed, pointing at Marv.

"And you're blonde!"

Finn flinched and ran his hand through his hair. In his semi-awake state, he took a whole second to realise that he couldn't see what colour his hair was with his hands. There was a full length body mirror sitting a short distance away from the large, cushiony mattress and he immediately scrambled over.

The man staring back at him was definitely not the man who had appeared in Arcadia just a few days ago. His body was positively ripped and there was a network of thick veins that pushed up against the skin on his forearms. Though still only one vein popped against his bicep, each muscle was bigger, more defined and definitely looked incredible against the heavily tanned flesh. A light dusting of blonde chest hair occupied his chiselled pectorals but other than where his body hair normally grew, he was still mostly smooth. As Marv had observed, his hair had turned a golden blonde with slightly darker but natural brown roots. He could feel the faint coarseness of stubble across his strong jaw but with his hair being such a bright blonde it was mostly invisible.

"What the hell happened...?" he murmured.

A knock came to the door in the large, wooden hut and it opened a moment later. A large rhino stepped in and judging by the presence of the fang necklace and cowboy hat, they both immediately recognised him as Lobo. But the smell that came from the Collector - that heady, masculine smell that _screamed_Alpha mixed with a faint crispness like fresh snow and ending with a sweet tinge - just connected this man to the Collector they had helped rescue the previous day.

"You two are coming along well," rumbled the Collector with a smile.

"Comin' along...?" repeated Marv, slowly removing himself from the sheets. He grimaced as some of his excessive body hair had gotten stuck to the sheets through some of the leftover traces from the previous night. "What're ya talkin 'bout? An' why is Finn blonde? Fuck, why ain't I blonde?"

Lobo let out a soft chuckle and moved across the one-room hut. There was barely any furniture in the hut. Just a table for two big enough to fit a Collector, the bed, the mirror and an empty bookshelf. There was a storage box at the base of the bed as well. Lobo took up one of the seats and set up his big feet on the table.

"After you become a Collector, your bodies go through a sort of... 'second puberty'. You'll start to get stronger, bigger, faster and more... virile." Lobo grinned as he pointedly looked at Marv's cock. "You'll find your features start changing. You'll actually grow taller. Hell, as a human, I'm actually seven and a half feet."

"Seriously?" Finn asked.

"Yep. But these 'growth spurts' only really come when you change into a new species. After you go through each of the Gates and transform at least once, the changes stop."

Finn ran his hand through his hair, still feeling their natural spikes. "Is there any way of telling what'll happen to us?"

"Not really. There's no standard though we've noted that how it affects you is dependent on which Gate you go through and in what order. For example, Savage and me became Collectors at nearly the same time and we both passed through the Gate to Blessed Mountain first. The first changes in our bodies were a couple of tattoos."

Finn inclined his head to the side. "Tattoos...?"

"Most of these changes vanish when you transform into a Beast. It only really sticks when you're human." Lobo shrugged his massive shoulders. "Don't ask me why. Anyway, the Twins, Vein and Vale, passed through Burheim on their first go and the first thing they got was bigger dicks and balls. But when I_passed through Burheim, I got more body hair. When they went through Blessed Mountain, instead of getting tattoos, they got _way taller. It isn't about the number of Gates you go through either. We just accept it as affecting people differently. But once you pass through all ten Gates, you'll pretty much be as strong as a Beast but still look human. Mostly."

His racing heart somewhat calming, Finn moved towards the bed and sat down beside Marv. The scent of their lovemaking the previous night was still in the air. He also found that his sense of smell was far more acute. He remembered just how Marv smelled and was comforted having the source of the scent right next to him.

With his thoughts somewhat returning to calming waters, Finn thought back to what had happened the previous night. There was a lot of celebration. Lobo had been thought to be lost and he, Marv and Savage were apparently just being written off lost as well. But then they emerged from the Gate, healthy and safe.

All of Arcadia broke into celebration. Food was shared between Cultivator, Constructor and Collector without prejudice. Admittedly, Finn had seen a few foul stares or awkward movements when Collectors were around but he didn't care too much at the time. For once, they were all Arcadians. The party was short lived, however, and just an hour or so after the sun set, Marv and Finn followed the other Collectors to their new home.

They were given this hut... which they proceeded to christen all night long..

"So we're Collectors now..." Finn murmured.

Lobo lowered his feet and got back up. "You sure are. But you've got a lot to learn before you go out onto the field again. From what I heard, you guys were really close to losing it."

Marv threw his arm around Finn's shoulders and brought him close. Finn's cock began filling with blood and a soft moan escaped him. "We got it covered!"

"Neither of you have gotten the proper training and now you're both part Beast now," Lobo said while still offering a faint smile. "I've arranged for our Hornton expert to walk you through how to be a Collector and give you a crash course on restraining the Beast. He'll be taking you through the Gate probably later this afternoon or tomorrow but for now, I want you to go meet him in the Glade. It's just a short way from the Meeting Hall, go east and you'll come across it."

Finn's stomach growled loudly.

"But first get something to eat," Lobo laughed. "The mess hall is right beside the Meeting Hall." He grinned at them both, a shine of pride in his eyes. "Welcome to the Collectors."

Lobo then turned and left the hut.

Finn still couldn't quite believe that he was now a Collector. He _was_left with some worry about his projects back in Arcadia proper but he didn't think anyone would mind if he wandered there every now and then to oversee new and exciting forms of entertainment. Maybe he could even involve some of the Collectors.

His thoughts were interrupted when pleasure erupted from his right nipple. Marv slyly gave the fleshy nub a light tweak, his cock already rock hard.

"We gotta eat... and meet... Urf..."

"Now dun tell me ya want me to stop," Marv teased.

"Fuck no."

After a round of vigorous friendly jacking, the two of them got out of bed and made their way towards the door. Neither of them wanted to penetrate one another just yet mostly because it was just morning and if they were going to go through a Gate, neither of them wanted to be walking around with a sore ass. Finn stopped, however, as he reached the door.

"What's wrong?" Marv asked.

"Erm... we're naked..."

Whether it was the fact that they had walked around completely naked when they were rhinos or they were still partially sex-addled, both men stared at one another dumbstruck at the revelation. A shout came down from somewhere outside and Finn dared a peak beyond the door. He was somewhat relieved to see another human walking around without clothing as he made his way towards the stream. There was another man waiting already within the waters and judging by the fact that they looked almost identical, they were the Twins.

"I guess people don't mind walkin' 'round stark naked around here..." muttered Marv. "Beast or human..."

"This is so weird," Finn chuckled with a shake of his head. But he couldn't deny it was also exciting as he pulled open the door and stepped outside. The warmth of the sun gently brushed against his skin while a soft breeze cooled the flesh at the same time. He walked bare foot down the spiralling steps that curled around the tree where his and Marv's hut sat. The Twins at the river greeted them with a wave and he returned it with a smile.

The smell of cooked food lured him straight to the mess hall were a big rhino was cooking something inside a wood oven. When he saw them, the rhino wearing a white bandana around his neck beamed immediately and beckoned them over. Unlike the Meeting Hall, the mess hall was an enclosed area with the kitchen being at the far end and rows of big tables occupying the large hut. Steel tables had been set up and from the looks of things, they were in need of repair. A lot of them had some rather very large dents in them.

"Well if it ain't the heroes!" the cook bellowed, his voice so loud that it shook the mess hall. "Come on, you two. Bet yer starvin'!"

"You bet we are!" Marv said, bounding over to the counter separating the kitchen from the rest of the hall. "What's to eat?"

"Mostly what we can find out there and what the Cultivators sent our way. But yesterday before ya'll went on yer crazy rescue mission, some of our boys came back with a whole slab of cured pig! So..."

The smell of cooking bacon filled Finn's nostrils and his mouth watered. The chef set down a large heaping plate of bacon right in front of them, nice and crispy without being burned. He also set down a large loaf of cheesy bread beside them and another loaf of honey encrusted bread mixed with some nuts.

"I'm Cross by the way," said the cook with an easy, friendly smile. "And you're..." He pointed at Finn. "Finn and you're Marv."

"That's us!" Marv answered through a mouthful of bacon and bread. Finn didn't have time to answer. He was too busy shovelling the food into his mouth. He didn't realise he could eat so much so quickly and yet here he was, making a large dent the stack of bacon that had to be one and a half feet tall without showing signs of stopping.

"Got yer names yet?"

There, Finn did find a moment to pause. "Names?"

Cross rolled his eyes. "Ah what kinda teacher is Lobo if he didn't tell ya about the namin' ceremony." He pointed out the door. "Sometime soon, Lobo is gonna take ya out into the Glade with the rest 'o us. He comes up with a name with da consent o' the other Collectors an' give it to ya. Ye bear that name from then on cuz when ya become a Collector..."

"You drop whatever you were as a human..." Finn murmured softly.

"Not havin' doubts are ya?"

Finn shook his head. "No. I'm fine." He gave Cross another smile before he stuffed his mouth full of more bacon and bread. After he chewed and swallowed, he said, "So Lobo mentioned we were meant to meet with someone who's an expert at Hornton?"

Cross beamed and turned back to his oven. "That'd be Gantry. He's a little quiet. Strong silent type. But he makes an amazing rhino and has a good head on his shoulders." He picked up some pre prepared dough, stuck them on a wooden board and then slipped it into the oven. "You know, it's nice to finally have a full twelve members. It means one of us doesn't have to be stuck at home twiddlin' his thumbs while the others go on missions."

Marv paused when he reached for the last strip of bacon. He instead pushed the platter towards Finn with a smile. To prevent any protests, he immediately turned to Cross. "Whatdya mean?"

"Collectors go through the Gate in groups of three." Cross said as he put more bacon on a big, metal pan already covered in grease. "It's just how things 'ave always been. It makes sure we keep our heads out there in the Haze. But since there were only ever ten of us at any one time, it means that one guy always misses deployment every week." Cross chuckled and shook his head. "I tell ya, sittin' around not goin' through that Gate makes ya feel... useless, ya know? It's jus' fer a week but it feels like ya aren't contributin' ta Arcadia."

Thinking of his contributions to Arcadia, Finn again wondered about how his planned soccer tournament and little stage was faring. He decided that after his training, he might head back to the Collective and chat with Travis about his ideas. There were only twenty-five humans now - one of which couldn't play soccer - and it really wouldn't be fair if one team had a Collector on it. Though he supposed with that sort of division, maybe they could form teams of three with one Collector each...?

He'd have to pass it by Travis.

"Ya boys want more?" Cross asked, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

"I'm good thanks," Finn responded. "Though do you have anything to drink?"

Cross' features brightened and he quickly ducked out of sight. He then came back with a bottle full of milk, pouring them both a glass. "Here ya go. Need all the strength ya need. Yer in your growin' period right now."

"So I've been told," chuckled Finn. "Thanks for the meal."

"Anytime, kiddo! Say hi to Gantry fer me!"

They bid their farewells with both of them downing their glasses of milk and Marv taking the last bit of bacon. The rest of the Collector camp was already in full swing with most of the other members taking a bath in the river. Those that were missing were likely through the Gate. There were only a few otters now, just three from all appearances. The rest where rhinos. Finn recognised Savage and Lobo bathing one another, Lobo helping to scrub down Savage's back. He waved at them though only Savage noticed and the rhino gave him a smile and a nod in return.

Heading east, they found a well-trodden dirt path away from the Meeting Hall and through the forest. The sound of birds chirping, leaves rustling and the general ambient noise of the forest died away. A quiet serenity suddenly fell on the forest as they approached a small clearing. Knee-high grass was everywhere, making it hard to navigate. Beautiful flowers blossomed amongst the blades of emerald. Sitting near the centre of the Glade was a single rhino. He was enormous not only in height but also in girth. Unlike the other rhinos that Finn had seen, this one had a bit of a belly. Though his abdominal muscles still showed, he had the appearance of a muscle gut rhino about him with his stomach protruding farther than his pecs and his cock and balls being even more prominent. Even as he sat crossed legged in the Glade, it was like his genitals were being cradled by his calves. As his own trinket, the rhino had a black cloth band wrapped around his left bicep. The word 'Rock' was stitched onto the band.

Gantry had his eyes closed and it appeared like he was meditating.

But the moment Finn dared to take a step into the Glade, the grass shuffled slightly...

"As a Collector, your senses are sharper than a human's." Gantry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "But everything is dependent on the species that you become. As a canine, your sense of smell will be so sharp you can track a fellow Collector from miles away. As kangaroo, your sense of hearing will be so acute that you'll be able to hear a whisper even through three foot thick walls."

He opened his eyes slowly, revealing them to be a deep black.

"These transformations will carry on into your other forms even as a human. This is what makes Collectors superior to the Beasts. We benefit from their best qualities. But at the same time, it can be a hindrance." Gantry's eyes narrowed slightly. "Get too used to a form, favour one too much and you'll grow to become reliant on one sense. When you change, your next form might have something that debilitates the sense you had grown fond of. Rhinos, for instance, have a thick hide and that dampens their sense of touch though they still benefit from incredible strength. If you were an Orc who have an excellent sense of touch, becoming a rhino will be a detriment to you."

Gantry slowly rose from his squatting position, revealing his full eight and a half feet height. "You need to learn to balance all these senses. In balancing them, you balance yourself. You need to learn how to shut out the Haze or all the temptations assailing you from all your senses while you're out past the Gate. It will be the first step you'll take to controlling the Beast inside of you."

Finn absently touched his chest. That small gesture made him dip his gaze slightly and in doing so, brought his eyes staring directly at Gantry's cock. That stirred the Beast inside of him. His mouth went dry and his cock began to stir.

Gantry huffed loudly. "Lobo wants me to take you through the Gate again on your first mission. He was clearly impressed by your antics. But I think you're both rash, thoughtless idiots a lot like Savage. Reckless. You're one step away from just becoming mindless Beasts and I'll be damned if you turn fully on my watch."

He bared his teeth at them both. "So stow the hormones before I rip your cocks right off your skinny asses!"

Finn flinched and glanced at Marv. While his semi was quickly fading, he noticed Marv was having a little bit more trouble seeing as he was sporting a full hard on.

Gantry sat back down in the grass and closed his eyes. Finn took that as a sign to approach but still kept a good distance between himself and the enormous rhino. Marv did the same but only after he was only sporting a semi.

"Every day, Collectors have to fight with temptation," Gantry told them. "Sex assaults all the senses. You can_smell_ the need in the air. You can feel every muscle on your partner's body. You can see the desire in their eyes and you can hear their heartbeat pumping blood into their cocks. The moment you get a taste, it'll be extremely hard to remain true to yourself and even harder to say 'no'."

Finn tried not to visualise that description but he couldn't stop thinking about Marv's alluring scent that was simply inescapable. The memories of the hairy man's body against his, the taste of that cock and the blissful look Marv got as he came...

"Stow it," growled Gantry.

Finn bit his lower lip and the flash of pain relieved the pressure in his cock somewhat.

"Out there in the Haze, especially if you're infiltrating one of the Beasts' communities, you'll be constantly assailed by these temptations," said their mentor. "You'll be entreated by the Beasts to copulate with them. They'll want you and believe me, you'll want them to. The key is to act completely and willingly. You're free to enjoy the experience, even encouraged, but you must always remember who you are and what you're fighting for."

Gantry took a deep breath. "I've fucked a lot of Beasts. And it felt good. But you can't give in to the Beast inside you. You both have trinkets, right?"

Finn recalled the baseball cap that Savage had given him and Marv was still wearing the thick bike chain around his neck though it looked a little out of place on his human form. "We do..."

"Then you need to always, always think about that when you in the field. It has to be something that when even in the heat of crippling orgasm, you'll feel it or you'll be reminded that it's there. For some, it's the epicentre of their pleasure. Take Savage for instance..." Gantry opened one eye. "In his couplings, I've seen many of those he has been with take the presence of his nipple rings as an invitation to give them a tweak. In doing so, he heightens his own arousal but also reminds himself who he is. Get it?"

So though Savage got off on having his nipples played with, he had conditioned himself to associate sensations coming from that source with being a Collector and Arcadia. Finn gave the prospect a lot of thought and wondered if a simple baseball cap would suffice.

"I see you're taking this seriously," Gantry rumbled. "Good. Consider your trinkets very closely. I'll give you an hour after lunch to find something you'll find more suitable. For now, the lecture continues."

Gantry went on to tell them about how Collectors truly worked, free of the judgement of the Arcadians. Sex was not taboo nor was it restricted to the private quarters. Everything was consensual, however. They were a brotherhood and they took care of one another. If anyone bore any hard feelings towards another, there was to be no backstabbing, taking sides or treachery.

"Fight if you must. Get it out of your system. Just don't get others involved and don't kill one another. We're few enough as it is."

Then he went on to the mechanics of being a Collector, about the transformations, how good it felt and how they were inherently infectious. When they transformed, they could change anyone else they came into contact with especially if they came on them. This included other Beasts. This was to be avoided at all costs unless the situation could not be avoided. Out in the field, they were _never_to mention Arcadia nor were they ever to betray their brothers.

He told them about the schedule of the Gates and what lay beyond each briefly. Each of the ten experienced Collectors had a specialty in one of the ten Gates. They had committed the environment to memory and had the most connections within the Beasts. It was they that usually formulated the plans of attack in the Meeting Hall when their Gate came up. He also told them that only two groups were ever deployed at any one time, one attacking group and one infiltrating group. The rest of the Collectors took the time until their deployment to rest and recuperate.

"But you need to keep up your bestial forms," rumbled Gantry. "Just in case you need to be deployed at a moment's notice. It takes about twelve hours before you change back to human. This is usually brought on by sudden arousal and an explosive orgasm. Some of the past Collectors said it was like Arcadia was trying to push the Beast out of you in the most pleasurable way possible. You'll usually fall unconscious afterwards so make sure when it comes, you find somewhere safe to lie down. We've had incidents when someone came in the river and got a concussion when they fell in."

"So how do you maintain them?" Finn asked.

Gantry smirked slightly. "By finding someone else sharing the same form and having sex with them. I find that the 69 position is usually very useful in this sense."

Finn tried to pull back his arousal at the thought of the huge Gantry's muzzle wrapped around another rhino's cock, while his own cock was being serviced.

"I... I uh... thought that being just around a Beast could change you... urf..." It was clear Marv was also struggling with his arousal.

"The power of Arcadia is strong enough to stop whatever power your mere presence can have on transforming others," Gantry replied. "Nothing short of coming in contact with another Collector's fresh cum will do the trick in here. Speaking of which..."

Their mentor explained that the clock just reset the moment either of them came in contact with cum. That meant that they just extended their time in their current for another twelve hours. It wasn't a permanent solution. It also had to come fresh from another Collector as well. Apparently, a prior generation tried to store semen but it just didn't work. That built a sort of 'sharing mentality' within the Collectors. If anyone was ever feeling horny for whatever reason, the most 'polite' thing to do was to find another Collector of the same species and 'share' with them. That would reset the timer of the receiver and likely that of the giver as well.

"But I thought we were all about controlling our hormones?" Finn asked. "And speaking of which? How are we meant to do that exactly? I mean... I'm trying my best but if you don't mind me saying, sir, you're fucking hot."

Gantry smiled faintly. Whether that was for the compliment or Finn's question was not made clear. "Simple answer? By keeping your hands occupied. Most of the Collectors here have other hobbies that they use to keep their minds off their throbbing cocks. Savage likes to whittle at wood. Cross cooks and I like to come out here and just meditate. It helps when you're out in the field too. If you feel like you're going to slip and thinking about your trinket doesn't help, think about what you're going to cook next, that time a butterfly landed on your nose while you were sitting perfectly still or that time you made a perfectly whittled sculpture after trying and failing all day. And if all else fails, think about your brothers."

The big rhino looked past the two back at the camp. "We all share a bond as brothers sharing the Collector name. We can't let one another down. We can't let Arcadia down. That is what keeps us human."

Thinking about the others back at the Collective, about Ken and Josh, about the soccer tournament and all the ideas he had about making Arcadia more than just a place to survive but a place to live... It actually helped quell the undeniable arousal he felt from being around Gantry. He realised that was probably the rhino's tactic. He glanced over at Marv whose own cock had gone back to being flaccid. Even looking at the source of so much pleasure for him, Finn didn't feel his own dick spring back to action.

"Well," Gantry said, clapping his big hands on his knees. "It's about time we took a break. Both of you head back to camp. Find yourselves a nice trinket. Meet me back here. I'll tell you how we run things beyond the Gate."

******

349:10:21:16:32:21

The lecture through the day was an enormous information dump and Finn wondered if he should've brought a book or pen to take down all the notes. Constantly fighting his arousal didn't help matters either and he was sure he missed a few things. But he got the general gist of things.

Amongst the Collectors there was no pressure to perform like those in Arcadia proper. You were not assigned to a group and was thus forced to do your best in that group. Here, everyone did something because they wanted to. If you needed something done, simply ask and chances are, a fellow brother was willing to help. It really was more like a family.

After lunch, Gantry took them on a quick tour of the camp, showing them the important sections such as the Meeting Hall, the mess hall, the latrines and then the areas where each of the Collectors occupied themselves with their own hobbies. They came to Savage's woodshop which was a small hut situated near the river filled with his various whittlings. Vein and Vale apparently made a hobby out of various games and had a small games room with a salvaged pool table. Gantry explained that the two had snuck off past the Gate one day and came back with it unannounced which infuriated Lobo. But when Lobo got into it himself... he wasn't so pissed anymore. They had already seen Cross' kitchen and most of the other Collectors were out on the field.

When asked on what the rules are for heading back to Arcadia, Gantry told them that they were fine to go back and forth as they saw fit but to make sure someone else knew as well so that they knew where they could be found. Marv said that he was going to head back to fetch something that he thought would be perfect as his trinket but Finn decided to stay back to ask Gantry more questions.

Back at the Glade, Finn asked, "Lobo carries around a sword... Does everyone have a weapon?"

"Yes but only the attackers ever carry them," answered Gantry. "Our weapons generally need to be left behind at the Return Gate if we're infiltrating. Most of the Beasts' groups don't have our kind of weaponry."

"Like what?"

"The Builders, for example. They are completely unarmed. If Lobo were to carry around his sword in there, they'd instantly become suspicious and realise something was wrong. It's dangerous being an infiltrator but also it's generally the easier way to steal supplies."

"How do you know what to steal and when?"

"The infiltrators and attackers work in a symbiotic relationship in that case," answered Gantry. He held up both his massive hands. "Attacks work the dual role of being the offensive front and taking things by force but they are also a scouting team. Generally, teams on the earlier half of the day do the scouting and only take targets of opportunity. They set up the stage for the afternoon teams. After lunch, those teams take the marked targets and steal what they can."

"Marked?"

"Yes. I'm sure you've noticed that we Collectors have a distinct scent, right? I'm not sure if you noticed but generally those beyond the Gate all have the same scent."

Finn did agree that each Collector was distinct in their smell but he didn't agree that each of the Beasts smelled the same. One in particular stuck in his mind; that big brute of a Wrecker that was carrying that makeshift hammer. Even after he was gone, that Wrecker's scent burned into Finn's mind. It was... powerful and just demanded obedience...

"There are ways to mark targets subtly," Gantry continued. "Rub your armpits against it, wipe your sweat over it, piss on it. Whatever. The other Collectors will pick up on it and know that is the target you want taken. It also helps that when you return, you can verbally tell them about it."

"Won't the Beasts pick up on it too?"

Gantry smiled at him. "You're just full of questions, aren't you. Good. Shows you're listening." The big rhino grunted and nodded. "Beasts can and will pick up on your scent but generally, they don't do anything about it. They don't know what it means and if you're infiltrating, they don't do anything about the way you smell. Well, most of them. The more intelligent ones might accost you about it but the more... brainwashed ones, won't."

Finn gave Gantry a puzzled look and the big rhino chuckled softly.

"Some groups of Beasts are driven towards a particular goal without any free will of their own. This goal is all they think about and everything they do is compelled to follow this goal. Wreckers will always destroy. Builders will always construct. Very little personality shines through them all. This makes them both dangerous and predictable. Get in their way and you'll find yourself with a _very_tough opponent. Do what they do and you'll have a friend for life.

"But there are smarter Beasts out there like the dogs of Barkingham or the dragons of Camp Draco."

Finn's eyes widened. "Dragons? There are dragons?"

Gantry chuckled softly mildly before proceeding to close his eyes. "Yes. You'll get to see them soon. But as I was saying, these Beasts show more personality. They are still brainwashed to some extent but it isn't as cut and dry as with the others. You'll need to be very careful."

The big rhino then clapped his big hands on his knees and looked up at the sky. "It's getting late. Your friend isn't back just yet so why don't we call it a day? I think you're both ready for a trip through the Gate provided you can both get a trinket and pat down a hobby." He pointed a finger at Finn. "Tomorrow, after lunch, meet me at the Gates. I want both of you to present me your trinkets, your weapons_and_ your hobbies. If I don't find it's enough, we aren't going through. Got that?"

Finn gulped. He still had no idea what his trinket was going to be and he knew a baseball cap wasn't going to cut it. Worse yet, he hadn't thought of a hobby. And now he had to get a weapon too?

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now get out of here."

That almost sounded playful but Finn was too preoccupied with the coming deadline to think of it as anything else but a command. He headed back to camp in a hurry, running through his mind any possible solutions to the three questions: What was his trinket? What was his hobby? What was his weapon?

He was surprised when he reached the hut he shared with Marv to find that his friend was sitting at the base of the tree with a shovel in hand and just patting down the dirt. There were several sticks embedded in the recently disturbed dirt and a few signs reading 'tomatoes', 'beans', 'carrots' and 'cabbage'. There was also one section just for 'flowers'.

"What's that?"

Marv looked up, his eyes shining. "My hobby!" He leaned on his shovel with a proud smile on his face. "I figured that I've been a Cultivator fer years an' no one 'ere actually grows any food, right? So I figured, why not? If I ever think of fuckin', I can think of my 'seeds'." He gave Finn a sly wink.

Finn wasn't sure whether to smile or break out into tears. Marv was already ahead of him and had come up with his hobby so quickly.

"What about your trinket?" he asked, in a vain attempt to somewhat deflate Marv's pride. He instantly felt bad for asking and the ulterior motive behind the question.

Marv bent down and picked up a small metal bottle, sort of like a miniature canteen. He shook it slightly and something rattled inside. "In 'ere are the first plants I ever grew fully by myself. I was so proud of 'em. I kept their seeds. Pumpkins!" He tapped his chain necklace. "I wus gunna get someone to drill a hole in it so I can put it around my neck or sumthin'. What about you?"

Finn found that is throat had gone dry. It wasn't a competition but just thinking about letting down Marv after he had done so much to progress as a Collector just sent him down a dark spiral. He had spent so much time on keeping himself human while Finn had just sat around with Gantry. "Erm... still thinking of it." He quickly decided to change the subject before Marv started offering suggestions. His pride couldn't take that hit. "Um... Gantry suggested we go out on the afternoon run tomorrow after lunch. He wants us to bring our trinkets and our weapons and tell him our hobbies."

"Weapons, huh?" Marv asked thoughtfully. Then he beamed and patted his shovel. "Well, if I gotta go out there armed, I might as well go out with sumthin' I'm usedta usin'!"

And now he had a weapon too!

"Great!" Finn exclaimed all too enthusiastically. "I'm... I'm going to lie down for a second... My head is about to explode with all the... erm... info I got from Gantry."

Marv's expression turned to one of worry. "Are you sure you don't need some company...? I mean..."

"Nah! Go ahead and keep tending to your garden. I'll come up with something!"

Finn hurried back up the stairs and shut the door quietly behind him. He didn't want to slam it lest he spark up Marv's concern. He immediately threw himself on the bed afterwards, just staring up at the wooden ceiling... eyes wide in fear.

What was his trinket?

What was his weapon?

What was his hobby?

******

349:10:21:20:44:40

Marv snored loudly beside him, having had gone through the same information dump that Finn had been privy while he was tending to his garden. That he did not pounce on Finn and engage in sweet, sweet love only proved how strong his anchor to humanity was. All the while, Finn lay on his back, cock fully erect and throbbing for release as a constant reminder that he had not yet come up with the requirements to being a Collector.

He was constantly fighting to keep his hands from reaching up towards his cock and giving himself release. The sleeping pill effect of afterglow was tempting. It would delay his worries for one night at least.

But he knew that was just a temporary solution.

He had to come up with some answers.

And he wasn't going to find them at the Collector camp. Marv found his at Arcadia proper so perhaps he could find his there too. Though Finn feared that he had only been in Arcadia for less than a week and had no strong ties to feed upon like Marv. Still, he had to try.

Silently, Finn rose from the bed, careful not to disturb the slumbering man beside him. He snuck out of the hut, being careful to make sure the door shut quietly. The cold night's air was rather biting on his bare flesh so he was compelled to hurry down the stairwell just to get his blood pumping. He passed Marv's garden and with a wince, was reminded how far behind he was and of his deadline.

Wouldn't Marv be disappointed that after years of being asked to become a Collector, it was Finn that compelled him to make that plunge only for Finn to be the one to fail as a Collector?

That thought left a sick thought in Finn's stomach. He turned away from the garden and raced away from the camp. Despite being the middle of the night, he found his eyesight adapted quickly, likely another mutation brought on from being a Collector. Though he stumbled every now and then, he found himself easily back in Arcadia proper.

A spark of pride filled his chest as he saw that the other Arcadians were using the stage he had built. They had even improved on it. Now solid logs had been cut out to form seats and someone had erected a strong, wooden roof to protect everyone from the elements. There was a curved backing to the stage now as well so it wasn't just a flat platform. At the moment, a Constructor was performing an act with a Cultivator, bringing lots of laughs from the crowd.

He wondered if he could go back to being one of them if he failed as a Collector.

Josh did...

Shaking the thoughts from his mind, Finn turned away from the stage and wandered through Arcadia, looking for something, anything that he could use for his trinket, is hobby or even his weapon. He moved towards the soccer field which looked like it had really been put to good use. Sadly, he couldn't think of anything there that he could use.

Something at the stage?

No... He had come up with the idea and hadn't actually built anything.

He chuckled softly and thought maybe he should steal some wood from Gavin and use the woodworker's infuriated face to constantly remind him of Arcadia. It felt weak, however...

With a sigh, he turned and just... wandered. He passed the Collective and remembered his bland looking room. There was nothing in there that he could use. He hadn't been in Arcadia long enough to really leave his mark... Or perhaps he had but was it truly something he could use in the heat of sex or when the Beast was fighting to get out? Even now, the source of heat that kept his body warm was coming from his cock which was slowly rising. Just thinking about the Beast made him think of the blissful taste of Marv's rhino dick and the cum that he had bathed in...

"No damnit..." he growled to himself, fists clenched. "Not now." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm himself. It wasn't working however. He caught sight of the lake and winced at the idea that sprang into mind.

"Fuck it..." he muttered.

He took another deep breath... and rushed head long straight into the cold waters. He dove straight into the still waters, the shock of the cold hitting him so hard that he thought his heart actually stopped a little and he had instantly frozen solid. At least his cock was going down. That thought brought more blood back to his brain and restarted his cognitive processes. He could actually start registering what he was seeing in the dark waters.

Names.

Names etched on rocks.

It occurred to him that he hadn't actually picked up a rock and carved his name in it yet...

Then an idea hit him.

He swam down and snatched a plain, flat, vaguely circular rock and another one that had a sharper edge. Once he had both, he swam back to the surface, taking a deep breath. He quickly paddled back to the shore and got out. Even with the cold waters matched with the night breeze, he felt strangely warm as he sat down on the shore. With the flat rock on the ground and the sharp one in his hand, he began chiselling at the dark surface, scratching his name into it.

Just as he was about to finish the last 'N', a soft, familiar chuckle came from behind him as well as the sounds of wheels against grass.

"In all the excitement, I had forgotten you hadn't carved your name into a rock yet," Josh said. The wheelchair bound ex-Collector came up beside him, a sad smile on his face.

"Why aren't you at the performance?" Finn asked.

"I had my turn this week. I've got to spend the rest of it thinking up other things to tell people, you know." He gave Finn an honest smile. "I was thinking I'd start making things up. I mean, I'm going to run out of stories soon!"

Finn laughed softly and finished his carving. He held up his stone in the air and nodded.

"We usually have a big ceremony for when a new guy gets his name carved in a rock, you know," Josh said. "Then again, we usually don't have a guy that's just been here for five days become a Collector so soon. They usually spend a year around here."

"This isn't just for my name," answered Finn. "It's for my trinket."

"Going to use your rock as your trinket?" Josh regarded him dubiously. "I suppose that could work... but I'll tell you now, everyone has a rock. And I've seen good Collectors turn even with that."

Finn set the rock down on the ground. "Mine will be different." He then raised the sharper stone in his hand and brought it slamming down on his name, making Josh flinch. In one blow, the rock immediately split in half.

With a smile, he held up the two pieces. "One I'll keep with me out beyond the Gates," Finn said with a nod. "The other will stay here, in Arcadia. It'll remind me where my home is."

"Huh..." Josh muttered. "That's pretty... deep." He gave a short laugh. "Sort of makes my little gift feel stupid now."

Finn glanced over at his friend, eyebrows raised. It was the first time he had looked over and it was there that he noticed that Josh had a baseball bat sitting on his lap. Josh picked it up and gave the head of the bat a twist, revealing a secret compartment big enough to have a Key slide in.

"I figured you'd be needing a weapon of some sort so I had Gavin and Travis cook this up for you," Josh said, handing the pieces over to Finn. "The core is reinforced with metal and so is the holder for the Key. So even if the wood cracks, which Gavin insists won't happen, your Key will be safe."

Finn's eyes went wide as he took the pieces. "Josh... I don't know what to say... Thank you."

"Hey, I was a Collector too. I know what you need and I know the pressure put on you to perform." He smiled faintly, a hint of sadness in his voice. "I just hope that you can be a better Collector than I was." He nodded towards the forest. "Just be careful out there, the post apocalypse world is crazy. Sexy in some ways but still crazy." He wheeled himself around to face the Collective. "And while you fight out there, I'll try to keep your dreams alive here. I already got some of the Cultivators carving out a baseball field, you know! Won't be much of a challenge with so few guys and two teams but hey, it's something else apart from soccer!"

Finn's heart leapt into his throat and he fought off the tears welling in his eyes. Even though he was no longer a Collector and bound to a wheelchair, he never saw anyone stronger than Josh. And that he was keeping the dreams of a liveable Arcadia alive...

... it really made him happy.

******

349:10:22:12:50:10

Some would say that it was a bad idea to go on a strenuous exercise right after having eaten but Collectors were unlike most other people. Whether it was some form of abnormally high metabolism or just the way they were, a Collector was usually ready for action straight after a meal. Gantry felt energised and ready to jump through the Gate into Hornton but perhaps that was just how _he_was.

He couldn't describe it but he always felt at home in Hornton. Perhaps that was where he originally was from before the Conglomerate saved him. He didn't feel like he was 'returning home' or some other sentimental reason. It was simply that he felt more at ease amongst the Builder and yes, even the Wreckers, of Hornton than anywhere else. He enjoyed being a rhinoceros more than any other species.

Little wonder that he was the Hornton expert.

But today was going to be different. He would be in charge of the daring heroes that had saved Lobo, their leader. If he lost them to the Beasts, he knew that it would reflect badly on him. He was anxious about these two, the smaller one in particular - Finn. The man was head strong, determined and very curious. That was a dangerous combination out beyond the Gates. Some questions were not meant to be answered.

He was tempted to confine the two for a few more days of training, to really give them the feel of being a Collector. Watching them struggle against the Beast inside and the progress they made, however, pleased him. They experienced_the fight against the Beast whereas those he had to train like the Twins were inducted into the Collectors as full humans and they just had to _imagine the struggle before they were actually exposed to it. But he would still have been more comfortable if they stayed a little longer.

Sadly, he was feeling anxious about returning to Hornton. Sucking off Cross' dick to maintain his rhino form just didn't have the effect as being in Hornton. He doubted he would be much of a good teacher if he suffered from 'withdrawal'.

Hornton... the simple place where it was either build or destroy. Everything was predictable. Nothing unexpected ever came his way out there. Everyone had a role and everyone had something to do. Even being a Collector out there was easier than any of the others. It was hard to pretend true insanity like the inhabitants of the Badlands or religious devotion in the Blessed Mountain.

He waited in front of the Hornton Gate, the soft crackling of the open Gate calling to him like it was reaching out with gentle, electric tendrils and gently tracing the lines across his back. He flexed his right bicep slightly, feeling the tightness of the band across his arm. That faint tightness anchored him firmly in his mission and the temptation faded. Strapped across his back was a pickaxe that he had chosen as his weapon. There was a slot in the head where his Key could be stored.

His eyebrows rose as his two charges stepped out of the forest and towards him. He pulled away from the Gate and met them at the small pool just before the Gates. Marv was fully equipped and looked like a real Collector. There was a small, metal container hanging from his metal chain necklace and he held a shovel across his shoulders. Gantry had seen Marv start his garden, a clear indication of his hobby and it was clear from the dirt on his hands, that he was quite passionate about it.

But for Finn...

The newcomer still had that red baseball cap in reverse, showing off his golden blonde hair and he held a bat, matching the hat. As for his trinket, he had an adjustable leather strap wrapped around his left wrist and strapped onto that was what looked like half of a broken stone. It looked loose enough that even should he change, it would remain wound against his arm. Gantry tried to take in the young man's scent, searching for any indication of his hobby. He could usually detect it on the others. Savage had a faint scent of wood. Lobo had the faint scent of sweat and steel on him as he practiced his swordsmanship while Vale and Vein always smelled of beer because of how much time they spent drinking and playing pool. Even Marv had the faint scent of wet earth on him.

But Finn...?

"So tell me what you've got," he commanded.

Marv went first, stepping forward confidently and hefting his shovel easily into the air. With his other hand, he gripped the canister hanging from his neck. "These are the seeds of the first pumpkin I ev'r grew. I've kept 'em as a memento ever since! An' it ties in with my hobby too! I like to grow things!"

"Good," Gantry said with a nod. "Strong bond. Chaining off one memory with another. Makes for a strong connection. And I see your weapon ties in well with that too. Excellent. Did you have a compartment made to store your key?"

Marv grinned and twisted the handle of his shovel slightly, revealing a hidden compartment for his Key just like Lobo's sword. Gantry nodded. He recognised Travis' work. The smith had a bit of a resentment towards the Collectors for whatever reason but he would never do anything to sabotage their efforts.

Next... was Finn.

"And you, Finn?"

Finn didn't move and lifted his left hand, pressing it against his heart. "This is my name stone," he announced. Gantry was about to cut him off there. Everyone had name stones and it was never enough to make sure a Collector would stay strong to the cause of humanity. But then Finn continued. "I broke it in half. One half goes with me. The other half stays here in Arcadia. This is to remind me that even as a Beast, the only time I'll ever be complete is when I'm back here."

Gantry's eyebrows lifted. That was actually very clever. He wondered why he had never thought of that before and he was genuinely impressed. It sounded like sentimental drivel and something that sounded good in theory. However, just looking into Finn's eyes, he knew it to be true.

"And my hobby?" Finn said, hefting his bat. "I'm going to make Arcadia more liveable. I already headed building a soccer field and a stage near the Collective. I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure that this place isn't just a place where we survive. It's where we'll live. I'm going to build a baseball field where Cultivator, Constructor and Collectors can play against one another. I'll build us a bigger stage where we can all show off our talents. I'll even build a library so that all our knowledge isn't just kept in our heads but written down. I'm going to make Arcadia our home."

That didn't sound like a hobby. That sounded like a dream.

But one that was strong enough to become a reality. Finn had already proved that and given the things he had done so far, Gantry was inclined to believe that he could do it too.

Somehow, his dream sounded far more... meaningful than a mere hobby. Hobbies were something they did to waste time until their next deployment. Finn's dream could actually push them forward into the future.

But Gantry wasn't about to let the youngster's ego inflate over his thoughts. He just huffed and turned his back to the two, regarding the clear pool in front of him.

"Before each deployment, every Collector comes to this pool," he said. "We wash our hands in it and we recite a few words. It's something that's been passed down from Collector to Collector. It's not like it has some mystical power or anything but it helps remind us of what we're doing and who we are."

He bent down and dipped his large hands into the pools, gently rubbing them together in the clear waters. "I cleanse myself of the Beast. And let the man beneath breathe. I stare into the abyss, into the monster. It stares back and I see only my reflection. A Beast I am. But a Beast for man."

He straightened and shook his hands, letting them dry naturally. "Now you two." He recited the words for them again, guiding them through the ancient ritual. In honesty, to him they were empty words but he knew that for some of the others, it was something sacred. Lobo in particular barked at anyone who skipped the ritual for whatever reason.

Once they were done, Gantry led them towards the Hornton Gate once more.

"Our mission today is to go to one of the main Builder settlements," Gantry said, placing his hands on his hips. His entire body was itching to go through that Gate. It was unbecoming of a Collector but every Collector favoured a certain world in some way. Sometimes, it was better to enter a world where people accepted you for your bestial form instead of the stringent brotherhood enforced upon Collectors or the pariah status that the Arcadians threw at them.

"It'll be far from any Wrecker patrols," he continued. "Lobo and the other crews have been scouting the area for these guys and none of us want to run into him until we gather more information. But our job will be to get supplies. No scouting. No information hunting. Just get in, blend in and grab what you can. We want to be there just for a couple of hours before the sun starts to set and the next team has their shot."

Gantry glanced over his shoulder at his two charges. They showed no fear. Eagerness, maybe, but not fear. "You boys ready?"

******

349:10:22:13:09:55

"The Wreckers are really advancing through Builder territory..." Anodyne said grimly. The otter was perhaps the slimmest of the Collectors but he was still much broader and more muscular than any other human. He was certainly the leanest and the most vascular. He had a tattoo with the words 'est enim humanitas' arranged in a cross pattern on his right shoulder. When he moved, small bell wrapped around his wrist jingled. If that wasn't enough to constantly remind him of his humanity, Lobo knew perfectly well that the oldest and most experienced of the Collectors had another more "imtimate" reminder.

"They really are..." Lobo murmured in agreement. It was just himself, Anodyne and Savage in the Meeting Hall, the three most respected Collectors. They had gathered intelligence from one another's incursions into Hornton and their observations were very disturbing indeed. "In the past two days, they've made leaps and bounds. They've taken over what used to be the Line of Contest entirely and are still pushing forward."

Several large pebbles had been arranged all across the map indicating the movements of the known bands of Wreckers. There were three main 'gangs' as they liked to refer to them. The biggest one, led by Hammerhorn himself, was at least thirty Wreckers strong. The other two were about twenty each. Compared to the entire Wrecker/Builder population, it wasn't much but it was still the largest group of Wreckers to ever amass under a single command.

"That Hammerhorn can actually keep the rest of his army organised even when he isn't around is impressive," grunted Savage. "Though I saw that those other two gangs tend to lose a few members here and there. Only Hammerhorn's main gang continues to pick up members."

"I saw that as well," Lobo agreed. He pointed at the biggest rock representing Hammerhorn's group. "That leads me to think that his group is the one that has the main objective, whatever it is. The other two are just distractions to weaken Builder positions. He doesn't really care about them but they're an asset nonetheless."

He traced a line from where Hammerhorn's gang was to the nearest Builder settlement. "I'm thinking he'll hit this place next."

Savage shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Wasn't Gantry going to take the newbies on a gathering trip to a Builder settlement?"

Lobo nodded and pointed at another settlement but one a good distance away. Still on the same side of the river, however but far from the path of Hammerhorn's group. It was directly east of the Entry Gate and the Return Gate on the Hornton side wasn't too far from it either. "Yeah. This one. They'll be safe."

"But the old wall is right here," said Savage, pointing at a thick line across the map. "Wouldn't Hammerhorn be compelled to go around it and attack the settlement where our guys are going?"

"Wreckers are still Wreckers no matter the size. They'll try to go through it. Besides, there's a hole halfway down that they can slip through. Gantry was confident he would be uninterrupted while he has the guys there."

"Should we really be deploying the new guys so soon?" Anodyne grunted. "I still remember when you two first came to us. I had a tough time keeping you from fucking each other's brains out the first time you transformed. Didn't help your first gate was Bucking Cove where there's a shit tonne of beer."

Lobo smiled at the memory but his smile grew broader when he remembered how Finn and Marv had risked their lives, their sanity and indeed their standing with the Arcadians to rescue him. "They'll be fine. I'm sure of it. Besides, they're in good hands." He leaned against the map table, staring fiercely at the large rock. "Our concern is Hammerhorn. We can't just let him do what he wants. If he takes over all of Hornton, it'll be next to impossible to get resources from there."

Anodyne grunted in agreement. "Wreckers have no self-control and from what I've seen, Hammerhorn's posse is no different. They consume wantonly. Anything in their path is either converted or destroyed. They keep stockpiles but it barely lasts them a day before they have to move on and hunt for more, usually stealing it from the more economic Builders."

"And that's the problem here," Lobo said. "They have to attack Builders to get more supplies and in doing so, they add to their numbers. By adding to their numbers, they increase their need for more supplies so they have to keep moving. They might end up splintering in half to conserve supplies but then that's just another large group of Wreckers we have to contend with."

Savage shrugged and held up his hands helplessly. "What can we do though? We've really only got today and tomorrow for this Gate to remain hope and then we'll have to wait another nine weeks before it opens again."

"If we don't do something now," Anodyne said fiercely, "_when we return, Hornton might be overrun with Wreckers and there won't be any supplies left to salvage." He had his broad arms crossed and was rubbing his tattoo absently. "We nearly lost Lobo to those fuckin' Wreckers. If we venture out there _when Hornton has been taken over, we might never make it out."

The memory of Hammerhorn's power still sent chills down Lobo's spine. He was filled with disgust at his own weakness against that monster, but he still could feel a small part of the beast inside craving that feeling again. Whatever arousal he felt, he immediately replaced with that fury. He would not let himself fall under Hammerhorn's spell again or come that close to turning full Beast.

"That guy is too dangerous," he said at length. "Just one kiss from him and I almost didn't make it back."

"So what do we do then?" Savage demanded. "Snipe him from a distance? The guns are in Camp Draco."

Lobo pushed off the map table, giving it a faint tap with his big hands. "If we can't attack Hammerhorn, then we should reinforce the Builders. Do whatever we can to make them stronger."

The one otter in the room shook his head grimly. "Easier said than done. Those Builder bastards are stuck in their ways and are strictly non-aggressive. Whatever drives them isn't something we can understand. Trying to convince them to fight instead of defend will be tough. Impossible in the time we have left."

"I'm not saying we tell them to fight," answered Lobo. "All their constructions are nice and all but it's always been geared towards defence. They work off the same template over and over again. You take down one, you know how to take down the others. But if we got them to build a strong enough wall that even Hammerhorn can't bust through, if we can get them to hold out for nine weeks until we return with some better supplies..."

"Then we just might make it," finished Anodyne. "Alright, I'm in. I'm going to need to go rhino though." He glanced at the other two in the room with a sly grin on his face. "So which one of you boys is going to give me a drink?"

Savage licked his lips and reached over to cup Lobo's balls, his other hand seizing his own. "Think you got room enough for two, old-timer?"

******

349:10:22:13:15:33

Stepping back into the world of Hornton, through the same Gate and even around the same time gave Marv a very stark comparison. He could breathe _much_easier. The air no longer felt like he was taking in some thick gas and he had to fight to push it out of his lungs. The air did have that faint scent of leather, musk and sweat just as Josh had described, something he had never noticed before. Though he gave that to the fact that he was rather preoccupied at the time.

The soil of the junkyard felt rather abrasive against his feet. All those bits of sharp glass and roughly cut metal made him wonder how he had managed to cross this place on his bare feet before. Then he remembered that he had word thick shoes for half of the trip and then possessed the thick soled feet of a rhinoceros the other half.

Just thinking about transforming into a rhino sent shivers down his spine.

Gantry stopped a few short feet away, taking a deep breath and spreading his arms slightly off to his side. A sound like paper being crumpled or grains of rice being shaken came from the big rhino's form. Right before their eyes, flecks of dust seemed to materialise out of the air and attach themselves to Gantry's form. They piled together around his shoulders first, taking on a clean white appearance. The dust took on a cloth-like consistency and began to spread all the way down Gantry's arms and torso, forming a plain white shirt that looked about ready to tear across the rhino's enormous chest. As the cloth touched Gantry's waist, the swarm of 'dust' began to change tactics. Instead of a white cloth, they instead formed thick, dark blue denim. They formed a black belt that really accentuated Gantry's waist while making his thighs pop. Gantry hand to lift his left foot up to let the swarm form thick, brown work boots around his feet before doing the same for his other foot. The dust swirled around his head and formed a solid, yellow hardhat. Lastly, a bright orange hazard vest appeared on his shoulders.

"Whoa..." Finn gawked, mouth open. "What was that...?"

"The Haze," answered Gantry, turning back around to face them both. Marv swallowed loudly at the sight of the rhino's enormous package barely contained with those denim jeans. "Most of the Beasts have some form of clothing and the Haze seems to like to create these clothes to help you 'transition' into being one of them. Builders get this." He gestured at his outfit. "You'll find the dragons at Camp Draco get military fatigues, pirates of Bucking Cove have a mix and match of clothing and even the religious nuts of Blessed Mountain have a uniform." He shrugged his enormous shoulders. "Not that they really matter. Most of the time, they end up on the floor covered in cum anyway. But for infiltrators like us, it's important to look the part."

"How do we do that?"

Gantry wagged a finger at Finn. "Slow down there, kid. That's an advanced Collector move. You actually have to embrace the Haze, let your guard down so that it slips its creepy claws in your head. You let it work its magic to give you clothes but nothing else. You aren't ready for that yet." He hiked a thumb down over his shoulder. "Some of the other guys should've left some Builder clothes in a stockpile nearby. We can grab them after you change. Speaking of which..."

Gantry unzipped his fly and Marv's mouth went dry. He was already resorting to thinking about his trinket to keep himself from immediately lunging Gantry and taking that thick cock in his mouth. He took his mind of the big piece of black, throbbing meat Gantry offered them and recalled how he always got up before daybreak every day to check and measure the first pumpkin he ever grew.

"Marv, you want to do the honours?" Finn asked, showing remarkable self-control despite the fact that his cock was starting to stiffen. Marv was already completely stiff by the time Gantry and flicked out his dick.

"Naw dude," he answered with a grin. "Ya know I ain't good a blow jobs. Be my guest."

Finn rolled his eyes and stepped boldly forward. "You're going to have to practice eventually. I think in some cases, getting a dick down your throat is better than the alternative when coming from a Beast."

Gantry grunted his agreement as Finn knelt in front of him and gently ran a hand down his huge, eighteen inch and a half cock. Finn took a deep breath, taking in the big rhino's scent. Whether he did it instinctively or it was conscious, Finn licked his lips. A steady stream of precum began pouring out from the pulsating member, constantly tempting Marv.

"Don't stretch this out," rumbled Gantry. "You can have all the fun you want when we're back in Arcadia but we're on a schedule here. Besides -" He grunted as Finn placed his lips around Gantry's cock. Even with his mouth wide open, he couldn't wrap his lips around the head of the monster dick. "... we're getting close to the... Urf..."

It was clear Gantry was enjoying the experience despite his words and his hips were already bucking, pushing more and more of his cock into Finn's mouth. Sensing his need to have that cock within him, Finn's body began its transition from human to rhinoceros. His face began to broaden, a sound like stretching leather mixed with the gentle crackling of bone filling the junkyards. His jaw stretched forward, nostrils flaring. Inch by inch, his features lengthened while his jaw grew broader, allowing him to take more of the length and its width into his throat. Finn eagerly drank all the precum that Gantry was offering but it was still too much for his developing features to take. Much of the clear, salty fluid poured down his chin, triggering the change of his smooth, tanned flesh to the thick, grey, leathery hide. With the change in texture and colouration, his blonde stubble became more visible giving him a handsome contrast that Marv found irresistible.

Marv didn't even realise that he was rubbing himself until a jolt of pleasure shot through his groin. He briefly considered removing his hand but then his six inch cock began to broaden in his grip, lengthening and thickening while obtaining the same black texture as Gantry's. Shrugging, he approached Gantry, dick still in hand and pressed his lips against the rhino's protruding right nipple. The rhino Collector's shirt was paper thin, accentuating every muscle on his glorious body. Marv gently nibbled on the fleshy nub through the shirt, eliciting a loud groan. Gantry's thick arm wrapped around his body, pulling him close. The rising warmth of the big rhino's titanic form was comforting.

A mirroring groan reminded Marv of Finn who was just growing into his horns. Finn's entire features had grown and with a few more inches, he was able to easily take Marv's cock down his throat. Finn's ears were pulled back to the top of his head, obtaining the rounded, protruding leaf shape of a rhino while his golden blonde hair remained spikey and full of body between them. He instinctively jammed his head upwards like he was goring someone as his horns jutted from his face, rising into full length. Something triggered in Marv upon seeing those horns telling him that this male needed to be bred. He pulled back as much as he could but the most he could manage was not to pull away from Gantry and stick his transforming cock into Finn's ass. He still pulled his hand away from rubbing Gantry's stomach and placed it firmly behind Finn's head, guiding his friend's path down their mentor's dick.

Finn's neck began to widen as a result, his moans growing deeper and deeper into a manly rumble that just made Marv's balls ache. The grey of his skin began sweeping down his broad back, muscles building where it passed. His traps bulged out forming that beautiful, manly V-shape while clearly defining his spine like it was a valley between two enormous, muscular mountains. Every muscle was perfectly defined and as his spine began to grow, Marv could see those very same muscles gaining mass to compensate.

Marv grunted loudly and suckled on the offered nipple, soaking Gantry's shirt with his drool. His other hand roved Gantry's back, pretending that it was Finn's. He navigated through the hills and mounds until he reached the firm, bubble butt sitting beneath a joyfully swishing tail. He gave it a tight squeeze, bringing a grunt from Gantry and causing the big rhino to thrust his hips harder. The jolt brought a spurt of growth from Finn, his pecs burst forth and quickly being consumed by his grey skin. Again, the light dusting of golden blond hair was perfectly accentuated against his flesh as was every hard, chiselled muscle on his glorious, upper body.

Just watching Finn change made Marv crave his own transformation. He pulled his head back from Gantry's nipple and let out a lusty moan. His resistances caved slightly. One deep breath sent every fibre in his body quaking with the growth. This time, it was his feet first to change and he could feel the faint numbness that came from when those ivory caps took the place of his toenails and covered the tips his toes. He wiggled his toes, the constant movement egging the ripples of tan, leathery flesh from his toes all the way across his feet. His soles thickened and he let out a grunt as his feet grew to a size that would never have fit any shoe Arcadia would've provided.

An intense heat built up in his feet and it quickly swept up his calves. His body reacted to the heat by absorbing its energy and using it to build his bones and muscles. With Gantry's pectorals as a guide, he watched himself slowly slide up the rhino's flank as his calves ballooned out and grew. As soon as his knees locked into their new place, the heat quickly travelled up to his thighs but still left a dull burning sensation deep within his muscles at his calves. To remediate this, his body used the energy to fuel the growth of thick hairs on his limbs. A forest of hair wrapped around his calves, almost like woollen boots. It was thickest at the front of his leg where it looked like a bush of black fur. The rear of his calves were still covered but not as thickly. The hair even reached down to the back of his feet. Their growth left his legs pumped and cooled while the change focused on his thighs.

He was forced to spread his legs wide as his each muscle group across his thighs were filled with mass one by one. His height placed him just at Gantry's armpit and the big rhino lifted his arm invitingly. Too addled with the change to truly think, Marv dug his nose into Gantry's sweat stained armpit, for some reason seeing how his sweat has soaked the white fabric making it all the sexier. He too a deep, long breath, taking in Gantry's unique scent that placed him outside of all the other Collectors and the other inhabitants of Hornton.

It had that same manly base everyone had but it had a crisp, sweet, nutty smell like almonds and cream. This was contrasted by a strong hit of metal and plaster like he had just come right off a construction site. Oddly enough, it ended with a note of the same flowers that populated the Glade. His moment of confusion at that last tinge stalled his change as the primal part of his brain puzzled over what the scent meant but his more human side contradicted it by claiming a man's personality could not be discerned by scent alone. He let out a thoughtful hum, sniffing that sweaty pit more in an attempt to keep that smell in his nose if only to unravel the mystery behind it.

His transformation only became more pleasant from then on. It was no longer a violent rush of changes or an explosion of unbearable heat that had to be expulsed. While blood still rushed to his groin and he was lewdly groping Gantry while pushing Finn down onto their mentor's cock, he felt more... in control of the change. He let it crawl up his thighs, guiding the transformation of his skin to tawny leather. As it reached his hips, he could feel it wanting to creep up his abdominals but instead, he pushed it towards his cock and balls.

A soft groan left his lips with the sudden expansion of his balls. His thick, black pubic hair grew into a venerable forest, threatening to hide a large portion of his dick. Then, he pushed the pulsating heat of transformation all towards his member, smiling in pleasure as he felt thick veins roll up its length and push it to its full eighteen inches. He slipped a little when precum poured out of the tip in a wild torrent and his entire cock turned jet-black while his balls quickly filled up the space his spread legs left in his stance. But he quickly wrested control over it again and began guiding it up his torso.

He felt an odd sense of pleasure and release as each of his abdominals blossomed, becoming huge, firm bricks as big as a man's hand. Like his calves, as the change moved up towards his pectorals, the remaining heat was expended in the form of thick black hairs that outlined every chiselled muscle perfectly. His tongue fell out of his lips, heavy panting leaving him as his pectorals broadened, his lungs growing bigger to fit the rest of his body. He let out a big, shuddering shiver while his thick forest of chest hair spread across his chest and joined with his treasure trail. That shiver ran down his spine, passing each vertebrae and adding another bit to his height until he stood about as tall as Gantry.

Knowing that he could no longer take in his mentor's puzzling scent without bending down, Marv reached out and gently turned Gantry's head towards himself. The rhino had a bit of a confused look on his face as well but didn't flinch as Marv's transformation brought the young Collector's arm bulging out into its full rhino form. A sense of pride filled Gantry's eyes as they both leaned in, pressing their lips against one another's to share a passionate kiss. Marv let Gantry take the lead, the big rhino gently pulling and tugging at his features, taking his tongue all into his muzzle. With every little movement, his own features morphed to better suit the adoring exchange. There was a bit of discomfort as Marv's horns came out and he was forced to twisted his head to the side so their horns didn't bash against one another's. When he felt his form complete, Marv pulled away and beamed proudly.

"I didn't cum..." he murmured.

"Sign of a good Collector," grunted Gantry. "You - Urf!"

The same sound of rice grains running against one another suddenly filed their ears and Marv's first instinct was to quickly look down at himself. No clothes were appearing on his body but he caught sight of the Haze quickly forming a thin, blue, denim jacket appeared across Finn's shoulders. His friend's eyes were rolled into the back of his head in pleasure, his entire body had already changed to that of a rhino and the rapidly growing fabric began to consume his exposed hide. Still his massive eighteen inch cock was dripping precum all over the floor in violent gushes, a venerable pool of clear fluids right beneath him.

"Oh shit!" Marv exclaimed. "Finn!"

As if seeing him for the first time, Finn's eyes focused on Marv... or more specifically, his cock. Before Marv could do anything, Finn lunged at Marv's cock, taking it entirely in his muzzle. The sensation of having a warm muzzle wrap around the entirety of his member and the power of Finn's tongue rolling all over its length was paralysing. He threw his head back, teeth gnashed together and eyes wide as he tried to focus. He grunted loudly but couldn't help himself from bucking and squirting his cum down Finn's throat. Beside him, Gantry tried to pull him off but fell short when Finn's strong grip seized his cock and angled it towards himself.

Showing surprisingly dexterity, Finn took both of their cocks into his muzzle, rubbing them against one another and lashing his tongue between them. Marv was forced to press his body against Gantry's and both of them stared at one another helplessly.

"Oh fuck..." Gantry rumbled. His eyes were on the verge of squeezing shut like he was desperately trying to fight off closing them. "Shit... This is... ah!" Finn dove down on both of their dicks, the extreme length of their members allowed for a good majority of them to rub against one another and still enter his muzzle.

"Kid..." Gantry rumbled. "Don't... Don't give in... You're stronger... Just - Urgh!"

Marv shook his head, trying to push away the waves upon waves of undeniable pleasure that were threatening to take over his consciousness. "But... Finn...!"

"He's... He's too weak! He's... urgh!" Gantry ducked his head suddenly, his massive shoulder shaking. "Fuck... He gives good head..."

Marv offered a shaky smile. "Y - Yeah... I k-k-know... Oh fuck!" Finn squeezed down on the base of his cock, his big hands running up the length of his member in quick, long strokes. Each lap brought a thicker squirt of precum spewing from the tip of his dick and him closer to orgasm. "B - b - but... Finn!" He grunted loudly as he felt the pressure building at the base of his cock, his balls tightening and getting ready to explode.

"You've got to... to... to... Snap out of it!"

But Finn didn't respond. His tongue continued to lap at Marv's cock. Gantry had to grip the sides of his head as he fought against the Beast inside of him. Marv didn't have that much trouble as his mind was focused solely on Finn and how he didn't want to lose such a close friend. His motivation for holding back was solely so he couldn't give Finn that pleasure of eating his cum and damning him to the life of a Builder.

But as the denim jacket finished forming around Finn's shoulders followed by a tight, black shirt and then a pair of pants that remained unbuttoned to leave Finn's cock free to jerk and spasm of its own strength, Marv began to doubt he would ever get to see the handsome blonde man again.

"Oh fuck! Gantry roared.

The cry utterly surprised Marv and so did the shock of the warm air against his member. Finn instantly pulled all of his attention to Gantry's member, taking it entirely in his muzzle and bracing himself. Gantry's hips bucked and his jaw sprang open in a tremendous roar that rattled everything within the junkyard. Marv could actually see the pulsations of cum churning out from the length of Gantry's cock before it disappeared down Finn's muzzle.

Not a drop was wasted and Finn took it all, greedily, hungrily, devouring everything that Gantry had to offer. It was incredibly hot and watching it was the last push that Marv needed to topple off the edge of orgasm. He let out a grunt of warning and Finn pulled away from Gantry just as a spray of cum gushed out of the big, black dick and splattered his shoulder. Finn didn't pay attention it to and wrapped his lips tenderly around Marv's cock. An intense vacuum suddenly pumped all of Marv's seed out of him and he gnashed his teeth together as he gave his cum to Finn.

Waves upon waves of pleasure poured out of him, leaving his physically weak. His legs wavered and he fell to his knees. Finn was relentless in his pursuit for cum and pushed Marv to the ground in a grim shadow of when they had first turned. Finn took all of Marv's cock in his muzzle and both hands, draining the latter of all his cum while Gantry splashed them both with the last of his load.

Marv was almost reduced to tears. The salty fluids pouring from his eyes was mocked by the salty fluids erupting from Finn's cock. An ocean's worth of cum sprayed all across Marv's chest, covering him in the first wave and then quickly forming a pool around him in the second. He barely felt its warmth though. A strange numbness consumed him. When a large drop of cum fell on his palm he lifted his head slightly and regarded the small puddle. The pressure around his cock faded and Finn pulled himself free, letting out a long sigh and dropping against Marv's leg, eyes closed and a content smile on his face.

Looking back at the pool of cum on his palm, Marv seriously considered if he should just give himself to the Beast there and then, drink Finn's cum and join him as a Builder...

"Don't..." grunted Gantry.

"Am I really that valuable?" he murmured, sitting up. He shivered as a venerable waterfall of cum poured down his soaked body and joined the pool around him. "I mean... I ain't been a Collector long... an' ya still have Lobo... Would it be really that bad if ya went without both of us?"

Gantry was panting and had to squat down beside Marv to prevent himself from falling over in exhaustion. "It wouldn't. But it would be a shame if you went full Beast when your boyfriend didn't."

Marv blinked at his mentor in confusion. "What...? But he...?"

"If he were a real Builder, he would've just gotten straight up after cumming and headed off to join the nearest settlement. No resting like that." Gantry reached over and gave the back of Finn's head a powerful slap. Finn in return grimaced and cracked one eye open in irritation. "You got a lot of guts kid, letting yourself slip like that. You had nothing to prove."

Finn winced and propped himself up. He looked at his hand which were now covered in black fingerless gloves. Taking a good look at his clothes, he made a face like he didn't completely approve of them. Marv had to say, though, that leather jacket with the sleeves torn to reveal just how tightly the black shirt hugged his shoulder was very... delicious.

"I thought I did..." rumbled Finn bashfully. "You made a face when I told you what my hobby was going to be and what my trinket was. I didn't think you believed I could make it as a Collector."

Gantry paused for a moment then shook his head, a frown on his face. "That's stupid. If I didn't believe you could be a Collector, I would never have let you through that Gate."

"Well how was I supposed to know that?" demanded Finn.

Gantry jabbed a finger at the young Collector. "Look, don't go expecting that everything you do will be met with parades, parties and booze like when your rescued Lobo. It's those things that go uncelebrated that are the most treasured because they last. You don't need to always be doing something over the top and insane because that'll get you turned."

The big rhino stood up and huffed loudly. "You got lucky this time but don't go pulling something like that on my watch again, got that?" Finn ducked his head bashfully and nodded. "And tuck yourself in. You make for a shitty Builder if you're hanging out."

Finn scrambled to get his still somewhat erect cock shoved into his jeans. Marv just sat still and watched him work, not entirely sure how to feel. Should he be mad at Finn? Then again, pulling something like that was definitely Finn-like from what he known from the guy. Finn didn't ask. He just did. There were risks that he barely thought about.

Perhaps that was why he liked being around Finn so much... it actually broke the monotony of Arcadia...

"Now come on," grunted Gantry. He held out a hand towards Marv. "Let's get you cleaned up, kiddo. No use walking around covered in cum. The Builders will think you're a Wrecker."

******

349:10:22:14:01:41

Looking at a Builder settlement was like looking at what a town would look like if it were built out of enlarged toy blocks. Every piece of construction was made of the same kind of block; a wooden cube frame to form a skeleton and then cement used to fill the interior. Each block was about three feet wide and tall. Builders carried them all over the large settlement which was once the parking lot of a large grocery store. They built stairs leading up to the top of the store where they had constructed several square, identical homes out of the same blocks. It looked like they were using the grocery to keep themselves supplied and fed.

It looked like they had just finished lunch and just doused the fires at the centre of the walled off area. The smell of cooked beef, pork and chicken was still in the air making Finn's mouth water. As a rhino, that was a lot of slobber and he brushed his lips with the back of his hand.

"I have a question," he said softly as he approached the stronghold. The walls had to be at least twenty feet tall and all made of the same, strong, concrete blocks.

"I really shouldn't answer after you stunt back there," grunted Gantry. "But ask."

Finn ducked his head slightly and almost didn't want to ask now but his curiosity won the day. "If it's been more than three hundred years since the world ended, how are these supermarkets and food in them still... well... good?"

The leading rhino huffed loudly and stopped just before they reached the block with the settlement. There didn't appear to be any entrances save for one small opening facing the river which was strangely not guarded.

"Remember how the Arcadia basically keeps us all young? Well, out here the Haze works its magic to rip off that power. You saw how it created these clothes for us. It creates food and supplies for the Beasts out here too." Gantry eyed Finn threateningly. "That's why it's always dangerous to play with the Haze unless you've been trained."

Marv pressed a hand against Gantry's chest and pushed him gently away from Finn. Like the others, he too was now covered in tight fitting clothing. His was closer to Gantry's with a white shirt, loose fitting cargo pants and a fluorescent vest. Just like Finn and Gantry, he too wore thick, heavy work boots. The clothes stank of sweat and musk, clear indications that many other Collectors had worn them before Marv. "Look, lay offa him okay? He made it out with his head on right, right?"

"He got lucky," Gantry grunted. Then he offered Finn a slight smile. "But I've never seen someone work the Haze that well since Savage. Not even Lobo is that good with it. You might be good on his team." He flicked his ear towards the entrance like he was adding, 'but stay the fuck out of mine.' "Okay, remember you two. We're Builders. That means do whatever everyone else does. If you're not sure what to do, just do what I do." He quickly glanced up at the sky at where SOL was. "It looks about two. That means we got an hour before the Beasts start humping one another."

Gantry gave Finn a challenging smirk. "So what do you think, cowboy? You think you can hold onto your sanity after fucking and getting fucked by Builders?"

Was that a test? If he said yes, would that prove his recklessness and lack of thought? If he said no, would he be showing weakness?

"Why don't we play it by ear?" answered Finn.

Gantry huffed again and began to lead the way towards the settlement. Finn thought he saw a little smile on the rhino's face but it was hard to tell. He wasn't quite sure how to read Beast expressions quite yet. He was at least comforted when Marv patted his shoulder and gave him a broad grin. That smile brought back his confidence and he quickly followed after them both.

He kept his questions to himself even as they passed through the front door which remained unguarded. There were several blocks on either side of the door barely big enough to fit a single one of them through. He guessed that in case of an emergency, those blocks could be moved to plug the hole.

A sudden sensation of being out of place suddenly hit him as he realised that everyone in the settlement was dressed in relatively the same combination of white shirt, pants, boots and fluorescent vest. There were variations in the pants colouration and type but he was the only one wearing a black shirt and a denim vest with the sleeves torn off.

He fought off the sensation to turn tail and run, deciding to focus on integrating with the rest of the Builders and taking what he could back to Arcadia. The three of them had left their weapons near the Return Gate. They would have no need of them in the Builder Settlement. Despite being fully clothed, he felt so naked without it.

In his musing, he lost track of Marv and Gantry. Panic struck him as the two had vanished into the crowd of Builders milling about and carrying those big blocks around. With everyone wearing the exact same clothes, it was impossible to find them. Finn lifted his nose into the air and sniffed the air. He caught Marv's scent and a wave of relief washed over him. He took a second to calm himself and try not to look so scared.

He only managed to take one step forward when a Builder suddenly gripped his arm. Finn fought down panic and turned as calmly as he could towards the owner of the vice-like grip holding onto his forearm. He tried to keep his face as blank as possible but he felt all the fear he was bottling up was slowly siphoning out of his eyes.

The Builder in front of him was fair handsome, at least for a Beast. He had a thick brown goatee that matched the short spikey hair. In his other hand, he held a hardhat. Like everyone else, he had a white shirt and a fluorescent vest but his pants were coloured like desert military fatigues. The same scent as all Builders emanated from him; that thick aroma of sweat, musk mixed with fresh gravel and dust.

"You know this is a hardhat zone, right?" rumbled the rhino.

Trying to remember what he knew about the Builders, Finn tried to remain calm. "I know," he rumbled. "I just left my hardhat somewhere around here before lunch."

"Don't lie to me."

His heart stopped.

Was this the point where all the Builders instantly figured him out and swarmed him? Was he going to be pinned down to the ground while Builders shoved their dicks down his throat and slowly turned him into one of them mentally? Or were they going to chain him up and force him to do menial labour until he was reformed?

"Here," said the rhino, suddenly offering him his hardhat and a smile. "I know your type don't always follow the rules."

"Um... thanks," he answered, taking the hardhat. "And what do you mean 'my type'?"

The rhino gave him an exasperated look, a cute lopsided smile crossing his features while one eyebrow rose. His green eyes shone brightly with intelligence that Finn hadn't expected from a species that was touted as being mindless and almost robotic. "Come on. You know."

Finn shook his head in response.

"You know, former Wreckers!" The rhino clapped his shoulder with one big hand and offered the other as a handshake. "My name is Kevin, by the way. Born Builder all the way. Glad to see we can still reel in you wild guys every now and then."

Finn took the offered hand and shook it. Kevin's handshake was fiercely strong. "Um... yeah..."

"I guess you must've found those clothes out there," Kevin said, nodding at Finn's clothing. "Good thing the others who brought you over found some stuff that fit you. You'll start wearing what everyone else is wearing soon enough though."

That sounded more of a thinly veiled threat than a statement. Finn let go of Kevin's hand and the big rhino with a dusty grey skin led him towards where several Builders were working like a well-oiled machine. A small group of four were building the wooden frames of the blocks. When one, one of them carried the block towards a cast where another Builder would pour some cement into it. There was another group of six who were constantly brewing more cement and stirring the grey slush to prevent it from hardening.

"So let me show you how it works around here," said Kevin cheerfully. "By the way, I'll want that hardhat back at the end of the day!"

It was like his first day learning Arcadia's workings all over again. Finn was treated like an amnesiac and he willingly pretended to be one. He feigned no knowledge whatsoever of how Builder society worked and let Kevin walk him through how to make the bricks, what time meals were and the overall philosophy of all Builders - just do what you can. There was no pressure to be the fastest, the strongest or even the smartest. Everyone was just a Builder and equally trained in all arts.

When Finn said that couldn't be, Kevin just gave him a knowing smirk and told him that he had to stop fighting the instinct to 'Return'.

"Return?" he asked.

"Yep," Kevin said, as they sat down in the shade of one of the walls. He pointed over the wall towards a nearby skyscraper. "See that building there? That's NexPharm."

NexPharm. That name rang bells in Finn's memory and he recalled that name being plastered all over the boxes that he had appeared with. He decided to remain silent about that fact, however and let Kevin give him some exposition.

"A long time ago, several NexPharm people came from that building and visited us. They were what they called 'hoo-mans'."

"Humans?"

"That's the one!" Kevin gripped his shoulder and gave him a playful shake. "See? You're already fitting in just fine. Anyway, these hoo-mans came to us and introduced some really bizarre concepts to us. Things like socialism, democracy, environmentalism, industrialism. They told us that genetically, Wreckers and Builders are fairly the same. While Wreckers aggressively attack us and turn us into Wreckers, they all have this compulsion to join us that constantly drives them towards us. That's why when they attack us, we take them with open arms and welcome them. They'll eventually turn into Builders. That's what we call the Return."

Kevin nodded towards a hut on the far corner of the settlement. Like every other building, it was made of the same concrete and wooden blocks. Windows and doors were made from artistically leaving gaps in the structure. Though he couldn't see through the doors, Finn could see several rhinos sitting around or leaning against walls outside the structure. They were naked and looked like they were struggling with some internal turmoil.

"Those guys that haven't gotten to the point of putting on clothes like you and me. They're fighting to Return as well. One day, they'll join us."

Finn tried not to look visibly disturbed by Kevin's words. It almost sounded like the Builders were passive-aggressively converting the Wreckers with kindness and hospitality. As another Builder passed, the rhino greeted him by name even though he hadn't met anyone else apart from Kevin and those Builders at the brick making station. Another came up and shook his shoulder just like Kevin did before heading off. It was welcoming and oddly comforting. Across the settlement, he noticed several of the other Builders were doing the same with the Wreckers.

Those sitting in front of the building were watching as Builders went by, being gently shaken on the shoulder and given an encouraging smile by any Builder that passed. Those leaning against the wall looked on, fidgeting constantly. A Wrecker emerged from the building and looked up at the sky before moving towards an empty spot on the wall and leaning against it, looking just like any of the other would-be-Builders. A Builder shook the shoulder of one of the squatting Wreckers and the Wrecker suddenly got up and followed the Builder.

Right before Finn's eyes, the Wrecker's shorter form suddenly began to morph and twist. The puzzled, conflicted frown on the rhino's face had the corners of its lips twisted upwards and the same easy smile that was present on every Builder's face. The thick, lean veins all over his body vanished beneath bigger, softer muscles. Height was added to his frame, placing him at the same eight foot eight as all other Builders. Every strand of the rhino's bright pink hair suddenly stood on end and began to shrink back into his skull. The pink hue vanished, becoming a deep, sandy blonde. That same sound like a rain stick being played with hissed through the air as the Haze quickly gave him the attire of every other Builder in the settlement with the only piece of individuality his tan cargo pants.

And just like that, a Wrecker was turned into a Builder.

Finn needed to change the subject. The sight was just... scary. "What happened to the NexPharm people?"

Kevin's features grew slightly distant and he looked off to the distance like he was remembering a distant memory with a hint of sadness. "There was a big Wrecker attack. Most of them were taken by the Wreckers and turned into them. But the rest joined us instead. It was thanks to their knowledge that we learned about all these great places that were once part of hoo-man society." He gestured at the supermarket. "Before, we just used to build wherever there was open space but now, we know how to safely barricade ourselves and make escape routes and contingency plans. If Wreckers ever got in here, we could escape through a tunnel into the NexPharm facility where we could hole up until the Wreckers loose interest or we escape."

So it wasn't that the Builders were truly static. They _integrated_people into their folds and their knowledge became the knowledge of the collective somehow. More of a reason not to fall prey to the Builder mentality. Finn could just imagine these passive-aggressive Builders opening communications with Arcadia and their peaceful ways eventually lulling the Arcadians into a sense of security and comfort. Before long, they would be mingling and then transforming...

Still, it would be nice to have a contact outside of the isolation of the paradise of humanity.

A loud thump suddenly brought his attention away from the friendly Builder and towards the southern wall. He wondered if one of the Builders had dropped a block but everyone carried on their jobs so well that it was certainly impossible.

Thump.

There it was again.

"Did you hear that?" he asked, slowly rising from where he sat.

"It's probably nothing," said Kevin with a wave of his hand. "Come on, let's get you set up. You like working with wood? You look like you like working with wood."

Thump.

Finn couldn't explain it but a sense of apprehension began rising in his chest. It felt like someone had taken an air pump, shoved it up his ass and slowly filling his gut with helium. Every breath his took felt shorter and he was lifting his chest higher and higher, almost going to the tips of his stubby toes. The air felt thick and heavy again like the first time he had stepped into Hornton but this time, it was very different. It smelled a lot like Hornton but there was an odd artificial smell to it, like someone had added too much lemon detergent to the scent.

Thump.

His temple throbbed with the sudden noise and he grimaced slightly. Whatever the source of the noise, it was getting closer.

Thump.

Every pounding sensation in his head pumped adrenaline through his system. It slowly pumped fuel into his flight or fight response and he was starting to feel that he was going to favour flight.

Thump.

Thump.

"It's getting closer," Finn murmured, gently pressing to fingers to his temples. "Shit..." He spun towards Kevin. "Barricade that door! We need to block it out now!"

Kevin stared at him, puzzled. "What? Why?"

"Just do it!"

Whatever it was in his voice that held command over Kevin spread to the nearby Builders as well. They all rushed towards the door with Finn following shortly after. Several other Builders looked on in surprise as they quickly took the blocks from where they sat next to the hole in the defensive wall and began filling in the gap.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Finn grimaced and set down the block that he had picked up nearby. He poked his head through the shrinking hole in the settlement wall, searching for the source of that painful sensation. His eyes widened when he glanced down the road.

Lobo had mentioned an enormous black Wrecker with body hair that he wore like a white mantle hefting a massive makeshift hammer but his description did nothing to do the creature approaching justice. The guy was huge, bigger than any living thing that Finn thought could be on land. Every muscle on his form was perfectly defined and moved beneath his black flesh like his skin was just a thin tinted film. Unlike the flesh of other rhinos that looked rough and segmented, his skin was polished and glossy, making every movement look so fluid and easy. How he managed to create a pair of shorts to hold whatever monster his cock was remained a mystery but Finn was staring at the thick bulge more in horror than awe.

Strangely, the thumping did not come from each step of his massive feet. It came from something else.

"Hammerhorn," Finn murmured. "Project Hammer." He grimaced again and pressed his fingers against the side of his head. Questions of those words had to remain unanswered for the moment as he ducked back behind the wall for another Builder to slip a block in place.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

It took a second for Finn to recognise the Builder to be Gantry. Marv was flanking him.

"It's Hammerhorn," whispered Finn. "That Wrecker that Lobo met."

Gantry's eyes went wide in horror. He dropped whatever pretence he had of being a Builder and shoved his head through the shrinking gap. Just a second glance was all he needed before he backpedalled, jaws open in horror. After seeing one of their 'fellow Builders' look through the hole, several other Builders did the same. The moment they saw Hammerhorn, they immediately had the same reaction as Gantry and backed away from the incomplete wall. Even Kevin was frozen in fear.

"What are you guys doing!?" Finn demanded, pointing at the wall. "We've got to close this up!"

The Builders were just paralysed with fear.

"Did you see the size of that guy?" Kevin demanded. "He's huge! I've never seen anything as big as him. I think... I think he was there when the Wreckers took the NexPharm guys..."

Other Builders began chiming in. "He... he led them! He was the one that turned them into Wreckers!"

"We barely made it out last time!"

"We're doomed!"

There were flaws in having a sort of collective consciousness after all. When one person was struck with fear, they all were. Finn could see that even Marv was feeling the fear even though he still stood beside him, a block in hand.

"Look, he's not going to take us, okay?" Finn said, picking up another block and sliding it into place. "These walls are strong and thick. If we can just fill up this gap, then he can't get through."

"What's the point?" asked a Builder. "We have nowhere to run. And you saw how big he was. He could smash through this wall easily!"

"We need to run!"

Finn made a slicing motion through the air. "No! We don't!"

"Yes we do!" Kevin said. "If we can go through the tunnels now we can get to the NexPharm facility before he breaks through the wall. We can get nearly everyone out before he catches up with us."

That didn't sit right with Finn. They were hoping to run without any assurance that everyone was going to make it. They didn't value their life or the home they had built here. Was that how they lived? Nomads who built lives, homes in an area until they were driven out by the Wreckers? When he thought about how safe he was in Arcadia, he couldn't help but feel pity for these brainwashed rhinos.

"We just need to think outside of the box," he insisted. "If we -"

"Finn," Gantry said fiercely. "That's not how we do it." He put an emphasis on 'we'. "We're not Wreckers. We don't fight. I know you don't understand it yet but -"

"It doesn't mean I have to accept it either!" snapped Finn. "Ever thought that it's because you don't fight that you're constantly at the mercy of the Wreckers?" He looked from face to face, searching for something, anything to latch onto, to know that he was making a difference instead of just blowing hot air. "The Wreckers have this guy, this leader. Before they were just roving bands that picked off your minor outposts. They wrecked your things and you welcomed them with open arms. But now all that has changed! The balance has shifted!"

He pointed at the wall. "If we don't stand and fight here now, every Builder in Hornton is going to be a Wrecker. The Wreckers are going to take down your settlements one by one and turn you all into Wreckers. There won't be any more Returns. The moment you think_about it, the guy next to you is going to _fuck you and push those thoughts right out of your head as you spray your load all over your naked bodies!"

He saw a spark of horror in Kevin's face.

"That's right. You won't be wearing clothes or what clothes you'll be wearing won't be uniform attire anymore! You'll be putting on whatever you find on the street that's 'shiny'. Do you really want that?"

He was staring fiercely at Kevin. A series of shakes were going down the rhino's body. Whatever forces were battling in his consciousness, the one compelling him to move was winning. Suddenly, the rhino threw his head back and let out a loud cry, shocking everyone around him.

"Okay! Fine!" Kevin shouted. "What do you want us to do?"

Finn beamed. "Finish holing up this wall," he said, pointing at the barricade. He turned to Marv. "Tear down every building you can and create a set of stairs leading up to the tops of the wall. Form a line. We're going to drop bricks down on those bastards." Then he spun towards Gantry, ready to give the older Collector an order. But he froze when he remembered exactly who was the senior here.

"Well?" grunted the Collector in disguise.

"Um..." An idea hit him. "You can made clothes pop up on your body with the Haze, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Good." He pointed at the shopping centre. "Get as much clothes as you can and start rolling them into balls. Get as much oil as you can from the shopping centre." He gave Gantry a smile. "We're going to give those Wreckers a fight they'll never forget."

******

349:10:22:16:11:01

They should've been back by now.

Lobo paced in the Meeting Hall impatiently with Anodyne and Savage. They were waiting for Gantry and their two newest recruits to return. Once they got the report from the trio, they would make their own expedition to do what they could make the Builders stronger. But so far there was no news of them having come through the Return Gate. He feared something might have happened.

"They'll be here," Savage reassured him. "Not only because Gantry is our Hornton expert but because I'm fairly sure Finn is going to make damn sure they make it through that gate kicking and screaming." He grinned broadly. "That kid just does not give up."

A soft chuckle left Lobo as he regarded the map. "No. No he doesn't. He's very strong willed that one."

"Is that the name you're going to suggest for him?" laughed Savage. "Will?"

Savage had a way of antagonising the young man in Lobo; a carefree early-twenties guy that he knew he had been at one point. "That's lame and you know it."

"Then what, huh?" Savage leaned down with a smirk. "Bull? Because he's stubborn? Or maybe Rampage because when he gets going, nothing will stop him?"

Rampage, while fierce, didn't really fit Finn that well. "No. And before you ask, what would you call him?"

"Me?" Savage placed a hand against his chest, pretending to look flattered and batting his eyes. "I'd personally call him Rogue because it seems like he does whatever he wants. He built that soccer field and theatre for the Arcadians and then went off to rescue you despite our rules. Hell, if I wasn't sure you'd fuck me until my legs didn't work anymore for suggesting it, I'd call him 'Captain' because he'd made for one hell of a leader."

Lobo snorted. "The dragons will love that..."

"Ranger."

Both men turned towards Anodyne who was sitting quietly in one of the chairs surrounding the map. The big rhino was staring severely at the two. "I'd call the other kid 'Rush'. Seems like a real follower but will rush into anything as soon as he's told. But that one? Finn? Seems like a 'Ranger' to me." Anodyne tapped his temples slightly. "He's got the wanderlust in his eyes and he's got big dreams. I can imagine him making big changes around here but also protecting our peace. He might be alone in his stance and might end up being isolated for it but eventually, his ideas will change this place."

The name was oddly fitting. Something about Finn told Lobo that the guy wasn't the type to stay in Arcadia for the rest of his life and he was a doer as Savage had said. That was made him such a good Collector. But at the same time, that filled him with a bit of fear. Overly curious Collectors tended to wind up integrated into one side of Beasts or another...

"Ranger... it sounds good."

"Boss! Boss!"

He looked up as the twins came rushing over to them, as almost identical otters. They had an earring each as their trinket, on opposite ears. It was really more of a trigger as whenever they looked at one another, it would be like looking in the mirror and, as they said many times, they just had to share that look to remember where they belonged and who they were fighting for. This time, however, what broke up their identical appearance was the presence of Josh in Vale's arm's.

"Josh..." Lobo murmured, pushing off the map table and striding forward. "Any news?"

Josh shook his head sadly as he was lowered into one of the nearby seats. "No. The Return Gate hasn't opened. You think they...?"

Lobo bit his lower lip and glanced at the other two Collectors behind him. Even Savage's optimism vanished.

"Give them a few more minutes," Anodyne said. "People get caught up. They're infiltrating right now. It's not that easy to slip out of a Builder _settlement_with some resources."

"That's true..." Lobo took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Outposts are fairly easy but settlements tend to have only a single entrance and there's a _lot_of eyes." He glanced towards the map and pointed at where Gantry had taken the others. "If I remember correctly, this is a large grocery store complete with its own garage. They'll be spoiled for choice but sneaking out with it won't be easy."

Josh let out a soft thoughtful noise and when the others regarded him, he nodded towards the small green flag that had bene made from a piece of cloth and a little stick. "What's that?"

"Last known whereabouts of that big Wrecker, Hammerhorn," answered Anodyne. "We suspect he's going to be hitting this settlement next." He pointed at the target area. "Based on his path and current roads. Don't worry, he won't be going anywhere near the guys."

"Why? You think he'll charge through the roadblock?"

Everyone froze. Lobo exchanged glances with Savage and then turned back towards Josh. "Road block? What road block?"

Josh gestured for help and Vale picked him up, carrying him over to the map. He pointed at one of the areas that separated Hammerhorn's path with the target settlement. "Remember? There was a big wall here. It crossed the entire city. There used to be holes here and here..." He pointed at the locations. "But they were plugged up by Builders some time ago. It's just a solid twenty-five feet tall wall and really thick. We thought it was a quarantine border when humans used to live."

Lobo's eyes widened as his eyes darted across the map. How could he have forgotten about the plugs in the wall? "Gantry said that he was sure Hammerhorn wouldn't get to them while they were there. They would have enough time to get out..."

Josh looked at him worriedly. "But they aren't back yet... right?"

If Hammerhorn wasn't going through the wall then...

"Oh shit..." he murmured softly.

******

349:10:22:16:22:40

Whatever Hammerhorn expected, it certainly was not a fight from _Builders_of all things. He had approached the settlement with a strut and came up against the towering wall with his massive hammer over his shoulder. He had announced his intentions, telling everyone inside to surrender and make it easier. They would all turn into Wreckers in the end. There was no way around it.

Then... the first volley came.

At first, he was puzzled when something bright and orange trailing a steady stream of black smoke came shooting out of within the stronghold. His eyes widened when the fireball slammed into a Wrecker beside him, sending the guy screaming and flailing as hot oil covered him and the flames engulfed him. He dashed towards the river and dove straight in to douse the flames. He would be okay once the regeneration took hold but it was just the shock that the Builders had attacked that really shook him.

That shock, that slip in confidence, was felt throughout his army of fifty-strong Wreckers. They began murmuring amongst one another. He snarled, turning his surprise into anger. With a bellow, he charged the wall. He hadn't expected the wall to crumble instantly even against his massive size. He was met with a satisfying slam when his shoulder hit the wall. He felt the blocks, barely held together by their weight alone, shudder.

Then he saw several figures rising out from just behind the wall above him. For a second, he didn't understand what they were carrying... then the blocks started dropping. Even for a ten foot tall rhino, the three foot_wide cubes of pure concrete falling on him hit _very hard. One slammed against his shoulder, making him wail in agony and stagger back away from the range of the defenders.

They were honestly holding their ground against him!

His army charged forward mindlessly, having followed his lead and he didn't have the time to tell them to stop before the blocks started raining down and diving them back. A few Wreckers here hit and they collapsed to the ground under the heavy weights. They would not die. The Haze wouldn't let them but they would still be in incredible agony. His troops were disciplined enough to quickly pull their comrades out from under the rubble and to safety.

But the Builders were far from done.

Fireballs came shooting out from the stronghold, raining down upon them and forcing the attackers behind a nearby building to avoid being bombarded by the projectiles. Their retreat was met with the cheers of the defenders.

Hammerhon snarled.

This was not expected. Builders were not like this. They shouldn't be like this.

He poked his head around the corner of the building, staring at the wall were dozens of Builders were throwing their hands into the air and celebrating. His eyes focused on one particular Builder, a black sheep in the sea of similarly clothes rhinos. He wore a denim jacket with the sleeves torn and a black shirt.

A faint throb pushed at the corner of Hammerhorn's consciousness, pushing a word out of his muzzle.

"Arcadia."

Somehow, on the wall, even two blocks away, Finn heard the soft whisper of the Wrecker like the guy had been standing on the wall right next to him. He paused in his celebrations as he looked towards where the Wreckers had retreated. There was no way that their foes were going to retreat just yet. No doubt they were starved from travel and they had to break down the walls to get nourishment.

But now, Finn had bought the Builders some time.

He marched down the makeshift stairs made from the blocks that the Builders had erected. He had to give it to these rhinos. The worked fast and seemed to have endless stamina. Even in the short thirty or so minutes before Hammerhorn fully launched his offensive, they had managed to erect three stairs and build a makeshift catapult.

He had no delusions about holding this for indefinitely. A prolonged siege was to his detriment especially since they were just about a day away before the Gate closed and he, Marv and Gantry would be stuck in Hornton for two and a half months. Besides, Hammerhorn's strike against the wall had been _very_powerful. A few more blows like that or a good what with his hammer would've sent the wall crumbling. It was only the shock that the Builders were fighting back that had gotten the Wrecker.

Turning around, he headed down the steps as multiple Builders slapped his back, congratulating him on his well-executed plan. Even from different angles, he felt each slap was exactly the same as the last. It was what Gantry had warned him of. They looked slightly different but they laughed exactly the same way, congratulated him in exactly the same manner and worked perfectly in synch with one another with little instruction. On some level, that was great but on another, it was very, very creepy.

He stopped at the foot of the steps where Kevin ambushed. "So what now? Do we make more blocks? Make more catapults? More ammo for the catapults?"

There was a spark of independence in the rhino's eyes, something that was not present in the glazed expressions of the others. It was heartening to see that the little skirmish had actually brought someone to the light of independent thinking.

"What do you think we should do?" Finn asked.

Kevin went bug-eyed and looked lost. "Erm... I... uh... I don't know. This is the first time we actually fought against the Wreckers. Usually, if they attack, we just welcome them... Our numbers normally overwhelm them but..." He rubbed the back of his bulging neck. "I... I don't know what to do... Make more blocks, I guess?"

Finn nodded. "Good idea. But get about half of the population in the tunnels and running away from this place."

"We're retreating?" Kevin exclaimed, bringing all the celebrations to a deafening silence. "Why?"

"These walls aren't strong enough to keep the Wreckers back for long. The only reason we drove him back was from sheer surprise. Builders have never fought back before, remember?" He turned to gaze at the rest of the Builders. "Half of you head into the tunnels and take some blocks with you. I want you to start getting ready to barricade the tunnels. The rest, start making more blocks and ammo. I don't know when Hammerhorn is going to attack again but we need to be ready to fight back and give everyone else enough time to retreat."

Kevin shook his head from side to side. "But this is our home! For the first time, we have a chance of actually defending it! You want us to just give up?"

That spark of defiance got Finn's heart soaring. He didn't let it show on his face, though and just snarled at Kevin. "Tell me honestly, do you _really_think these walls..." He gestured at the concrete barriers that they had erected. "Is really strong enough to hold back the Wreckers in a prolonged siege?"

"They're going to tire out eventually!" Kevin shouted back, fully defiant now. "Wreckers don't pack supplies. They just go form one outpost to the next pillaging and taking without thinking about conservation! If we hold out long enough, they'll starve! Then we can welcome them with open arms and bring back the balance!"

A quick glance around showed that the other Builders looked similarly conflicted. There was deep thought in their brains on which course of action to take, Finn's conservative and realistic view or Kevin's optimistic, aggressive stance.

"How about this," Finn said, coming to stand directly in front of the Builder. Kevin was a little taller than him but he was still able to poke the bigger rhino's chest. "You can stay here and lead the defence. I'll take the rest out of here and set up the escape route. That way when the wall falls, you will have a clear path to escape. We'll cover you. But you have to promise that you'll get out of here the instant the wall starts to buckle. Got that?"

Kevin nodded firmly. "Sounds fair."

Finn returned the nod before turning and gesturing for Builders to follow him. Roughly half of the population of the Settlement hurried after him. It occurred to him that he had no idea where he was going until Gantry caught up with him with Marv in tow.

"I don't know what you're planning," grunted Gantry. "But you bought us some time. I'm not saying this is good for the long run but you've kept us alive and sane. I'm not going to argue about that."

There was something he wasn't saying and Finn didn't feel like putting himself at risk again because his mentor couldn't verbalise his thoughts in anything but a huff. "And?" he prompted.

Gantry gave him stare with narrowed eyes. "And I don't expect these guys to last another round. Their Builders. Not fighters. They're going to get fucked. We'll be far out of here by then. Things with the Builders can return to normal. Then maybe we can work on bringing the rest of Hornton back to normal."

Finn remained silent and just glanced over his shoulder as Kevin began ordering the remaining Builders into a flurry. None of them were that experienced at truly defending but Kevin's leadership kept them from collapsing under the stress or becoming paralysed like before. He knew that whatever he had done, it could only be good for the Builders. If only they could last...

Gantry led him to the western wall where they found a tunnel had been carved out by the Builders, the walls supported by more of their unique blocks. It made a sharp dip downwards and offered a short trip across the street into the atrium of the NexPharm building. Those that accompanied him carried many blocks that they quickly assembled on the other side of the short tunnel, preparing them for when they would have to barricade that side of the tunnel.

Finn took in the atrium. It was certainly very 'business like'. He imagined the polished, tiled floors would have been waxed every day. The front desk with the big 'NexPharm' logo plastered on the wall behind it would've been the first thing people saw when they stepped inside. The big glass doors provided a perfect view of the settlement walls just across the street. They were well out of sight of the Wreckers so they had no threat at the moment.

"There are emergency exits at the back," Gantry said, pointing beyond the lobby. "The next settlement is pretty far away, to the northwest past the wall. If we can start moving people now, we can save them before the Wreckers attack again."

"We'll needa few guys ta help barricade this place when the others come this way," Marv said, hiking his thumb back at the concrete walls. "Think maybe we shud block up those doors too?"

Finn exchanged glances with Gantry and they both nodded at the same time. None of the other Builders needed any instructions as they immediately headed back down the tunnel to grab more blocks. They became barricading the glass doors just to add an extra layer of defence to their escape route. At the same time, Gantry took the few that were not needed out of the emergency exit and had them heading towards the next settlement.

Finn put his effort into helping barricade the doors, with Marv right beside him. It killed him not to know what was happening back there but seeing as he didn't hear Hammerhorn's bellowing roar just yet, he guessed the next attack had yet to start. His heart was beating hard in his chest. He didn't want to lose Kevin, not when the spark of independence and leadership had been sparked within him. To have that lost in the wave of the Wreckers...

When the last block was set in place, the other Builders moved into position, patiently waiting for their turn to move. Finn didn't feel like instilling some independence into them just quite yet and turned his gaze away. His eyes settled on the NexPharm logo and his curiosity began rising again.

"Hmmm... I wonder..."

He headed towards the elevators and tried one just for kicks. He wasn't surprised that it didn't work but being denied access to the upper floors only made him want to explore all the more. Glancing upwards, he spied the flight of stairs that would lead to the upper floors. There had to be at _least_twenty-five floors in the building and the thought of mounting them all was a little daunting... His thighs were already starting to burn just thinking of it.

But then again, being so high would offer him a good vantage point of the battlefield.

That was enough reason for him and he quickly started up the stairs.

"Finn! Where are ya goin'!?" Of course it was Marv.

"This is a Nexus Conglomerate company," he said. "Maybe there might be something here that'll help us."

"Help us do what exactly?" Marv wasn't frustrated, just genuinely curious like him. "Ya think yer gonna save Arcadia and Hornton or sumthin'?"

Was he? Was that what he wanted? He certainly didn't want the Builders to fall prey to Hammerhorn but did he just want everything to 'go back to normal' like Gantry said?

"Maybe," he responded and rushed up the stairs. Marv was just a step behind him. His stamina as a Builder allowed him to keep a steady pace for about ten floors before his legs started to burn and he was gasping for breath. It didn't help that the stairwell hadn't been ventilated so the air was ridiculously hot and he was sweating through his shirt.

"Ya know, yer pretty sexy when ya take charge."

He paused and turned towards Marv who came to a jarring halt as their advance was abruptly stopped. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Marv shrugged absently. "All I'm sayin' is that yer pretty damn hot when you get all alpha male on ev'ryone."

"What are you saying, Marv?"

The big rhino shrugged his shoulders. Finn couldn't take his eyes off how the muscles moved perfectly and clearly beneath the thin white shirt. "We've been fuckin' each other for a couple o' days now an' I still kinda feel yer more 'o a fuck buddy than a steady. I mean, I know I said I'd follow ya wherever ya go but it ain't till now that I realised why that is..."

Finn angled his head to the side slightly. "Marv... are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Blushing very cutely, Marv ducked his head to avoid Finn's gaze. "Aww, don't go makin' me say, it Finn. Yer pretty awesome and I know yer gonna bring good change ta Arcadia and hell, after all this, maybe even to the Beasts. I wanna be right there beside ya as you do it. Maybe I get to do _you_while I'm at it. Ya know... as a boyfriend."

Finn wasn't sure how to respond to that. He had been so focused on the Builders that he had failed to realise that Marv was still there beside him. Even through all his rule breaking, Marv was still there. Maybe if he had used his connection with his friend, he wouldn't have struggled against the Haze when he changed into a Builder.

He gave his answer by stepping down onto the same step as Marv and pressing his lips against the big rhino's. He pulled Marv close, their cocks brushing against one another through their clothes. Marv swooned and nearly toppled off the stairs but Finn guided him towards the wall where he kept him there, affectionately letting his tongue tango with Marv's.

Before he could get too hard, he pulled away and gave Marv a smile. "Now we _really_need to get out of here."

"I'll go wherever ya go."

This floor seemed as good as any, the 18th. The door had been busted, likely from panicking evacuees. As he stepped into the lobby of the floor, he noticed how everything was broken and shattered. Glass walls used to separate the elevator lobby from the rest of the office but they were now all broken. Strangely, the security door remained intact. Grateful for this thick work boots, Finn stepped over the shattered glass and into the open plan office. There were no cubicles just large, square tables with power outlets and screens. No one had any assigned seats and it looked like the entire outer area of the office was reserved entirely for refreshments.

There was even a buffet table populated with all sorts of light meals including sandwiches and crackers. Despite having sat there for what must have been centuries, they still looked perfectly fresh. Marv immediately zeroed in on the table and began stuffing the meals down his throat.

"Wow! These are really good!"

"Save me a few," Finn said, wandering amongst the tables. He saw a few strange devices sitting around the area plugged into the power outlets. They were just small, squat rectangular prisms. He passed one that was partially on. A keyboard made entirely of light flickered out of the prism and danced across the plain white table.

Curious, he sat down but flinched when the seat creaked under his weight. He was forced to kneel in front of the desk as he tapped away at the keyboard. The monitors in front of him instantly flickered on. A password screen flashed before his eyes.

"Wow..." Marv muttered through a mouthful of sandwich. "I'm surprised that thing still has power after all these years." He offered Finn a plate of sandwiches which Finn eagerly ate.

"Me too... Any idea what the password might be?"

Marv shrugged. "Hornton?"

With any guess being as good as any, Finn tried the name of the town. The moment he hit return, the password screen shook and a big red 'x' appeared beside the dialogue box.

"Nope... How about... Nexus."

That password wasn't any good either.

"NexPharm?" offered Marv.

No good their either but this time, a small hint appeared beneath the password screen.

"Sanctuary," Finn read. "Paradise. Utopia." His blinked and began typing. "Arcadia..." He hit return... and the password screen vanished. "Holy shit..."

Marv swallowed the contents of his muzzle before he mirrored Finn's exclamation. "Fuck me... What's this nerd got...?"

Sadly, it looked like the contents of the laptop had been cleared probably in the rush to escape whatever was coming. Somehow despite never seeing one of these before, Finn knew where to navigate to check the file system and he knew perfectly what the near lack of documents or files meant. Someone had purged this system. As a last ditch effort, he checked the mail service program.

It was empty.

Except...

... for a single file in the outbox.

His eyes widening, Finn opened the mail. It was titled 'Director Report: Project Hammer' and had a single attachment. He exchanged glances with Marv. They both knew what this meant and he eagerly opened the attachment.

It was a voice file.

Finn drummed his fingers on the table impatiently as he waited for the appropriate program to open. Marv set his hand on top of his to steady his and the contact sent a tingling warmth through his body.

He couldn't dwell on the sensation, however, as the file opened.

"_Project Hammer _was our attempt to break the cycle of stagnation in the area known as Hornton,"_said a calm, masculine voice. _"We observed that the Beasts that had developed within the city were all of a rhinoceros strand but divided into two distinct groups, the individualistic Wreckers and the conformist Builders. The Builders constructed buildings ceaselessly while the Wreckers destroyed those very same buildings. They fight over resources and land constantly but with neither side ever gaining the upper hand over one another. Builders cultivate the land and produce agriculture while Wreckers take it from them before they can be too prosperous."

The sound of panic erupted over the recording and he could hear people typing hurriedly in the background.

"They are driven by a sort of primal programming brought on by the Haze,"_continued the speaker, _"and we sought to break this programming. Various prior projects had us attempt to separate the two species by creating the river that now cuts through the city. However, the Builders just subconsciously created bridges that connected the two once more. Even a physical wall was not enough to stall the eventual reunification of these two factions."

Marv knelt down beside Finn but glanced out the window. "The _Conglomerate_created the river?"

"As a barrier to separate the two types of rhino..." Finn agreed.

"To this end, my department and I submitted the draft of Project Hammer to the Director. In essence, it was what we believed to be the most viable attempt to create a bridge between Wrecker and Builder. We knew that Builders had an almost 'communist' aspect to their society but with subdued individuality. While they laugh and appear to have personalities, when you closely examine their society, they are almost exactly the same. They laugh at exactly the same joke, they follow the same instructions without ever being actually taught and when you befriend one Builder, you are instantly the friend of the others. Attempting to convince them to make peace with the Wreckers would be simple enough but having the Wreckers likewise accept... that was the issue."

"Kevin looked like he was a pretty strong individual," Marv commented. He elbowed Finn lightly and with a proud grin on his face. "Thanks ta ya, right?"

Finn returned the smile and angled his ears back towards the recording.

"So we decided to take the route of Project Hammer instead of its counterpart, Project Nail. Project Hammer took the best of the Wreckers and subjected him to genetic modifications, psychological rehabilitation and re-education. We had hoped to build a creature who could lead the Wreckers on a path of peace to unite with the Builders and form a stable society. The Director gave us approval for this endeavour and gave us this facility in an old NexPharm office building. All the equipment was top notch and pristine like it had never been through an apocalypse. Our equipment was kept in the basements while our offices were kept up here."

The sounds of panic in the background grew and Finn could hear alarms. Someone was shouting for everyone to evacuate, telling them to make sure that they purged their laptops and took all of their equipment.

"Wreckers do not have names so we spent six months observing them and finding the most viable candidate," continued the man, a rising panic in his voice. "We selected our candidate and abducted him. He went through two weeks of intense genetic modification. We understood that mere size and strength would not be enough to lead the Wreckers let alone subjugate them into a single group. We know that they work on a sort of hierarchical society where the biggest and toughest become the leaders of small gangs no bigger than three or four. However, when the leader is deposed, the gang is scattered. Leadership is basely mostly on luck since most Wreckers are of the same build and those that get too many followers tend to throw themselves at the Builders who eventually transform them."

"Oh my god..." breathed Marv. "They_made_ Hammerhorn..."

"So as part of the genetic modifications, we had to make sure our subject was bigger than everyone else. We also had to make sure that the Haze didn't overwrite any of the instructions that he gave, forcing the Wreckers back into their primitive ways. We build strong scent and sweat glands into him and gave him a rather impressive mane to help carry his scent. While it does not get rid of the Haze, it does emit a strong enough smell that it overpowers the Haze in the minds of the recipients."

"That's why we changed that first time!" Marv exclaimed, slamming his hand against the table. "Hammerhorn passed us an' I remember smellin' sumethin'... strong_and _commandin'. Fuck..." He shook his head, gripping the side of his face. Finn gently gripped his hand and pull his hand away.

"Don't worry, Marv, you couldn't help it. If it wasn't him, it would've been someone else or the Haze."

"After he was modified, we wiped his memory and kept him in a Haze-free zone, teaching him from the ground up. He was little more than a child mentally but one capable of crushing us with an idle swipe of his hand. It was tough but after four months, we had him speaking English and he was solving basic logic puzzles. We moved his education to tactics, slowly telling him of his purpose and mission. He seemed... complacent at the time.

"If only we had known then... what he knew now."

"They fuckin' taught him," Marv snarled. "They made him what he is now!"

Finn had to stand and pull Marv away from the recording. "Easy, easy. What's got you so worked up?"

Marv's eyes were filled with fury. "Those assholes were meant to be our saviours and they just ended up making things worse! They _made_Hammerhorn!"

"I know! I know!" Finn yelled, using all his strength to push back Mav. "But let's hear him out, okay?"

"We were very careful in our experiments. We introduced him to the Haze slowly so that he would not be overwhelmed and we were very pleased that even in the densest Haze concentrations present in Hornton, he was unaffected by it. We introduced him to a few captured Wreckers and we were happy that he showed sympathy towards them didn't always forcibly subjugate them. He always resorted to violence last and seemed very apathetic towards the primitive Wreckers. He even began teaching them.

"And in that... was our downfall."

The sounds of glass shattering filled the area and the guy sounded like he was running out breath. A low growl escaped his lips and he was struggling with his words. The sound of tearing filled the recording as did the feral roars of several rhinos.

"We... we... urgh... failed to realise that he was still learning. He is a living being, not just our t-t-tool. Education runs in both directions. He learned of what the Wreckers were and the Builders. And I...I...I... can only assume he chose the life of freedom of a Wrecker as opposed to our guidance.

"He... He broke out."

The owner of the voice suddenly grunted and a loud growl escaped from him followed by a low, lusty moan. When he next spoke, his voice was much deeper. A strange slurping noise occasionally cut through his words.

"I-I-I'm not sure how long our defences will keep him and his group contained. He's transformed most of the security force assigned to us and somehow they've retained their... ah... Oh god... Their knowledge of our facility. We've done what we can to contain them but...but... but... Ah! I know they'll get out eventually. Th - th - they already reached this floor...

"Mr. Director, if you're listening to this, I am sincerely sorry about how this has turned out. I know this isn't how you wanted things to go and I apologise for our recklessness and arrogance. I know humanity must survive but...

"A - a - and I'm becoming o-o-one of them... Oh fuck! That feels good! Ah! Yes! Yes! Harder you slut! Yeeeeeeeeeah!"

The recording suddenly switched off.

It was clear the report never made it to the Director.

Casting his gaze around the room, Finn couldn't help but imagine that one researcher desperately sending off his message while all his colleagues around him were transforming and he too was changing. The shattered glass windows probably let the Haze in, infecting them all. Still, he wasn't sure if he should pity the guy or condemn him for what they did. They took a Wrecker and forcibly changed him... and for what?

A loud crash filled his ears and he got up and rushed towards the windows facing the settlement. The next attack had already begun. Hammerhorn was leading the offensive and he was swinging his hammer at the walls. The shock of the Builders fighting back had worn off and he was shrugging off the blocks and flaming balls being thrown in his direction. It looked like the other Wreckers were holding back likely because they were far more vulnerable to defenders' strikes than Hammerhorn was.

Thinking about how he had driven Kevin to stand on his own, Finn wondered if he was any better than these scientists. The Builders seemed content with their life even if it was rapidly coming to a close and they would be reborn as Wreckers. It just felt wrong that they willingly accepted that only a few of them would make it through the escape.

Finn shook his head and had to finally settle with agreeing with _NexPharm's_ideals, just not their methods. They had been foolish to treat Hammerhorn like an animal and that carelessness led to Hammerhorn's path of conquest. It was funny that the researchers had built Hammerhorn to be this great uniter to bridge the gap between Builder and Wrecker. Now he had taken that purpose and twisted it to simply to turn everyone into a Wrecker.

Though he did wonder...

Kevin mentioned that all Wreckers eventually had this compulsion to Return. Maybe even if Hammerhorn were to turn everyone into a Wrecker, some might eventually splinter off and become Builders.

"It won't end..." he sighed softly. "No matter what they do... it won't end..."

Marv's strong hand fell on his shoulder and pulled him from the window. "Come on, Finn. We gotta go."

It was a depressing thought that the inhabitants of Hornton would forever be stuck in this cycle of conversion and construction. The thought of Kevin eventually becoming a wild Wrecker only to return to his Builder roots perhaps with no memory of what he had been just formed a pit in his stomach that didn't go away even as he descended the steps back to the lobby. He wondered if there was any point in rescuing these Builders from Hammerhorn if they were damned in either way. If the very same people who built Arcadia and SOL couldn't come up with a way to break the cycle, how could he?

They emerged back in the lobby where the other Builders were waiting for their retreating friends and companions. The hope in their eyes and the fierce determination... He had given that to them. Perhaps he hadn't broken the cycle after all. Just... altered it a little... Maybe enough so that in the future, it would derail the constant path the rhinos of Hornton were on.

Who knew? Maybe Kevin could become the great leader of the Builders to counteract Hammerhorn. Maybe they would eventually grow weary of fighting one another and agree on peace. It a faint home, perhaps the thinnest straw Finn had ever grasped but it was better than nothing.

He stormed forward, hands balled into fists. "Okay, get ready! The moment you see a Wrecker, start throwing blocks down there. Make sure not to hit your friends. We leave no man behind!"

Gantry came rushing back and gave Finn a nod before picking up a block himself. "One of us will need to lead anymore escapees out the door. Volunteers?"

Finn wanted to be where the action was; to see that his plan was successful. He asked Marv who eagerly accepted.

Then, the first escapee started storming down the tunnel.

******

349:10:22:17:15:00

"What the hell is happening...?"

Lobo knew exactly what was happening but he still couldn't believe it either. Builders, the very same passive-aggressive Builders that had been such easy prey for resources, were defending themselves from Hammerhorn. In all his years being a Collector, he had never seen such a thing.

He, Anodyne and Savage stood a good distance away from the siege within an abandoned building. The organised Wreckers hung back while their boss swung his hammer at the Builder wall. Every impact shook the structure and it wouldn't be long before it crumbled. But as he swung, balls of oil-soaked rags lit on fire descended on Hammerhorn while other Builders tossed blocks down at the big rhino in an attempt to deter him. One block slammed right onto Hammerhorn's head and he staggered back. A quick shake of his head later, he was charging back at the wall in an attempt to bring it down.

"First that big ass Wrecker pops up and unites the Wreckers," grunted Anodyne. "Then the Builders are defending themselves? What the hell is going on here?"

Knowing that Finn was in that settlement, Lobo couldn't shake the feeling that the new Collector had something to do with rallying the Builders to defend themselves. He was strangely charismatic like that. But no matter how organised the Builders were, Hammerhorn's sheer strength and drive would ensure that wall fell.

"We need to get in there and get our men out," he announced. "I know this settlement. They have an escape tunnel that goes underground to the _NexPharm_building across the street. We can get in through there. We find Gantry and the others and pull them out. Got it?"

They agreed and quickly worked their way around the battlefield, taking extra care not to be seen. It came as a surprise when the NexPharm front door was completely barricaded. Probably something new the Builders had put in to ensure their escape. He led them towards the rear emergency exits, hoping that those hadn't been blocked either. It was with some relief that he was able to open the door and head on inside.

When he got the lobby, he got yet another surprise.

Several Builders were crowded around the tunnel, blocks in their hands and looking like they were ready to throw it down into the tunnel. He instantly recognised Finn if only because he was the only one that was oddly dressed in comparison to the other Builders.

"Finn!"

The young Collector flinched and turned. Two other Builders did the same, Gantry and Marv, in all likelihood.

"Lobo!" Finn exclaimed, bounding over to the big Collector. Find threw his arms around Lobo's neck and gave him a firm hug. He pulled away a second later, leaving Lobo feeling oddly cold. "What are you doing here?"

"You weren't back by the scheduled time," answered Lobo. "We got worried. Then Josh reminded us that there was a roadblock along the path that Hammerhorn was taking. He would either smash through it or make it through to here." His eyes lifted towards Gantry. "Didn't you think about the wall?"

Gantry shrugged. "I remembered but Wreckers never let walls bar them before. I thought they'd just try to smash through it, get tired and then move off. We would've been gone long before then. I didn't know how organised they were."

Lobo dropped his gaze. "Yeah... none of us did."

A loud crash shook the building and he looked up at the barricade that blocked the NexPharm entrance.

"That's the wall coming down..." Finn murmured. "Kevin should be coming through now."

"Kevin?" Lobo repeated. "Who's Kevin?"

"A Builder I sort of left behind to lead the defence."

Lobo blinked several times in confusion, processing the words over and over in his head. "The Builders have a leader? Since when?"

Gantry, a dark, impassive smile on his face. "Since your little 'protégé' started riling them up to defend themselves instead of running with their tails between their legs."

The sound of heavy feet rushing along the ground came from the tunnel and the Builders stationed there immediately lifted their blocks to the ready. Several Builders from the settlement came rushing up, panting and sweating. Marv instantly moved to organise them and lead them out the emergency exit. Lobo sent Savage and Anodyne to help.

"You got the Builders to defend themselves," he said to Finn, a statement not a question.

"It wasn't that hard," answered Finn with a shrug. "They want to preserve their way of life just like anyone else. But they were stuck in this rut of acceptance. If their walls came down, they would've just accepted what came at them. Sure some of them would try to escape but it's not like they would fight for it. I just reminded them that some things are worth fighting for."

"That's dangerous," rumbled Lobo softly. "It'll be harder to steal supplies from them now."

"Well why do we have to steal?" countered Finn. "If we make peace with them, couldn't we just trade?"

Lobo didn't respond as a loud Builder came rushing up the tunnel.

"That's the last of us! Block it off! Block it off!"

A shiver ran down his spine. There was certainly something... _alpha male_about the Builder even though he didn't look any different from the other Builders. It was in his presence, his scent and the way he held himself. It was something he had only seen in a few Beasts and most recently in Hammerhorn. Just thinking about the big rhino stirred his cock, making the jeans he wore somewhat uncomfortable.

"Kevin!" Finn exclaimed, rushing over to the lead Builder.

The big rhino gave him a shaky grin. Sweat drenched his head and clear pit stains had formed against his shirt and there was even a damp spot growing across his pectorals. "You were right. We couldn't hold them forever."

"You'll get him next time."

Kevin looked a bit startled for a moment. "There's going to be a next time?"

"Isn't there?" challenged Finn.

The Builder glanced back down into the tunnel. A broad grinned crossed his face. "Next time, we won't be retreating."

"That's the spirit." Finn picked up a block like the others. All the Builders around him began throwing block down into the darkness. He heard the Wreckers through the tunnel. Even if they had already found it, it was already too late. Within just two minutes, the entire tunnel was barricaded with so many concrete blocks in such an uneven arrangement that it would've been impossible for them to make their way through the tunnel. Considering how the tunnel sloped upwards as well, it would take them hours maybe even days to dig their way through.

Hammerhorn must've been pissed.

"Alright," Kevin said, bouncing on his feet lightly. "Come on, everyone. We're getting out of here. To the northern settlement! Come on! Move!" He flashed Finn a grin. "When we get back, we're making you an official Builder. Hell, if we could all be like you..."

Finn glanced briefly over his shoulder at where the other Collectors stood. They all seemed eager to leave. "Then you'd be like me and have all my weaknesses as well as my strengths." He gave Kevin a shaky grin and gripped the Builder's shoulder in a brotherly nature. "Trust me on this. Follow your own path. Make your own way. You're free to have your role models but don't follow my example blindly like those Wreckers follow Hammerhorn." He jerked his head in the direction of the barricade. "You're unique. And you saw how much difference one unique person can make." Puffing out his chest, he said, "So just imagine how much many unique people could do."

"Wouldn't that make us just like the Wreckers though?"

Finn faltered for a moment. "Erm..."

A big hand settled on his shoulder and he found Lobo by his side. "I think what he's trying to say is that you're free to be whoever you want to be but you need to know when to set aside your personal differences for the greater good." He gave Finn's shoulder a tight squeeze. "Sometimes, you have to sacrifice your personal desires for the greater good. But there are times when you have to make your stand against the tide." There, he gave Finn a bright smile. "It's just a matter of knowing when to choose one over the other."

Kevin grimaced and rubbed the back of his head. "Damn... that's going to be hard... I've been a Builder all my life and I've always just done whatever everyone else has done... but today..."

"You did what you thought was best," Finn finished. "That's worth something."

Kevin let out a soft laugh. "Yeah... Yeah, I guess it is." He grinned brightly. "But you'll get plenty of time to teach me about how to be me while thinking of everyone else when we get back to the settlement!"

Finn was about to respond to the affirmative when Lobo squeezed his shoulder again. He recalled that they were already well over time and there was no doubt the Collectors back in Arcadia were already worried sick for their welfare. It would be hard navigating through the darkness to fetch their weapons and make back through the Gate without attracting attention.

Gantry hurried over to them. "Come on, you two. It's time to go. These guys can take care of themselves." Then in a lower voice so only the two Collectors could hear, he added, "Don't make things worse."

A look of puzzlement crossed Kevin's features and his eyes darted from Gantry, to Lobo and then to Finn's. "Go? You sound like you're not coming with us to the settlement up north. Don't tell me you're going to another settlement." Before Finn could explain, Kevin said, "I need you here! I mean, there! I can't be this strong without you, Finn!"

A loud crash echoed somewhere past the barricade. Hammerhorn probably realised he had just attacked the settlement and received dozens of injuries without having captured a single Builder.

"Yes you can!" Finn exclaimed, moving forward the seizing Kevin's big hands in his own. "The strength has always been there inside you. As corny as that sounds, it's true. And if you want to be able to stand up against Hammerhorn's assaults, you need to be strong enough to stand on your own two feet without me."

Shaking his head, Kevin said, "Just tell me where you're going. This is all a lot to take for a few hours! I might need advice. Hell, I know I'm going to need advice! I mean, what do I do when I get to the settlement? Do I ask everyone to make more catapults? I don't think they have a suitable escape route like this. Do we prioritise that? What if the others don't agree? What if someone stands up against me?"

It was a little cute seeing the big rhino start to hyperventilate. His eyes went wide as he clutched the sides of his head, panting heavily, each sound growing higher and higher than the last. Finn took a moment to admire the... _humanity_in the so called 'Beast'. He glanced over his shoulder at Gantry and Lobo. Gantry looked lost but Lobo had this look on his face that just said, 'work your magic, Finn.'

Taking that as encouragement, Finn gripped Kevin's shoulders, stabilising him somewhat. "Life is not about knowing what's around the corner or what lies ahead of you. I know you've lived all your life in the knowledge that you just have to build, you just have to do what everyone else was doing and it didn't matter what came your way because you just had to build. But things change. The world changes. You have to change with it. Don't slip back into what you were before. You've got something here now..." He pressed his knuckles against Kevin's strong pecs, just over his heart. "Something that can lead other Builders and something that can light that spark in them as well so that they too can stand on their own two feet. Just like you."

Kevin gently gripped Finn's hand over his chest and pulled it up against his cheek, gently nuzzling it. "Just tell me where you're going..."

The look in the rhino's eyes...

Lobo's words haunted him... as well as his own conviction. The words of that _Conglomerate_worker who had fallen prey to Hammerhorn. He thought about how things would just 'go back to normal' when he left. Kevin's crushed spirit would just slip back into the general Builder psyche and he'd fall prey to Hammerhorn sooner or later.

Finn couldn't accept that.

He was told that humanity must survive but... did humanity have to rest solely in humans?

What was it that the Director said?

"But remember that humanity is not defined by what shape you take."

"We're not actually Builders... or Wreckers."

"Finn!" Lobo exclaimed and lunged forward but Finn held onto Kevin's shoulders tightly. Even as the Collector leader tried to seize his arms and yank him away, Finn held on tightly.

"We're actually humans! We come from beyond the Gates in a land called Arcadia!"

Kevin's eyes widened and he seized Finn's hands, pulling him back against Lobo's strength. Even when Gantry added his strength, Finn remained firmly rooted in position.

"Every ten weeks we come to Hornton and take on the shape of rhinos or come in using the shape of the previous gate, otters, to steal supplies to keep our community running!"

Kevin suddenly let go of Finn, sending the fairly new Collector stumbling into the arms of Lobo and Gantry. The Builder's eyes were wide in horror. Only a few Builders remained around them but when they had heard Finn's confession, they stopped their retreat and just stared in mute shock.

"You're the otters?" Kevin demanded. "Those monsters that come out of the river and attack us? That's you?"

Finn shrugged off Lobo and Gantry. "Well, I'm fairly new..." he admitted. "But yeah, that's the humans from Arcadia." He pressed his hands against his chest. "We're just like you. We're trying to make it in this post-apocalyptic world. We don't benefit from the supplies you get from Hornton. We have to grow our own crops and there isn't enough people to keep everyone fed. So we have to go through the Gates and take what we can. We're just trying to survive. Like you."

"By deceiving us and stealing_from us?" Kevin looked so hurt and betrayed. "I _trusted you. We all did. You were all our brothers!"

Finn wasn't sure how to respond. He had only been a Builder for such a short time. What little experience he had couldn't possibly weigh against the pain that Kevin must've felt.

Thankfully, Lobo was there.

"Every time we step through that Gate, we take on the shape of whatever species exists beyond," said the big rhino. "Some of us become experts in the lands beyond." He waved at Gantry and Finn. "I'm the best there is in a place called Bucking Cove filled with only otters. I know all there is about the Cove." Before Kevin could say anything, he lifted his hand. "I don't consider myself one of you but I like to think I understand what it feels like to lull myself into the monotony of stacking one block on top of one another and just letting my worries fade into the world."

Lobo reached towards his fang necklace. "See this? Each fang belonged to a former Collector. A friend. A brother." Lobo lowered his arm sadly. "We run the risk every day of slipping in with you guys, truly becoming your brother and letting our responsibilities to our people fade away. But we can't do that. People are relying on us. We have to do what we do because it's the only way we know how to survive."

Kevin took a step away and Finn's heart broke a little. "You... you change shape... constantly... You're... You're monsters..."

A loud huff came from Lobo. "And we call you 'Beasts'. Funny, isn't it?"

"How is that funny!?"

Lobo dipped his cowboy hat slightly. "Because we've spent all this time dancing around one another, us stealing from you and you subconsciously trying to make us forget about our friends and family on the other side of that Gate."

"We didn't know!"

"And we didn't know you'd be reasonable," countered Lobo coolly. He peeked up at Kevin from underneath his hat. "I think we're at a crossroads here, my friend. The truth is on the table. I'll admit that what we've done in the past has never been the most ethical. But it can all stop. We can stop raiding your settlements. We can even help you fight against Hammerhorn. Or we can go back to the way things were. You'd never be able to tell which one of us is a Collector and which one is just another Builder and you know how fast and deadly we are as otters. Not to mention you're all poor swimmers."

Lobo stepped forward, resting a hand on Finn's shoulder. "Finn started something good here. He built the bridge between our worlds where before it was just espionage and subterfuge. There's no way of going back to the way things were. Not now. Not with Hammerhorn out there." He held out his hand. "So what do you say? Let's call it a truce?"

Kevin pulled back, his hand behind his back. "Why would you care about us? Why would you care about Hammerhorn?"

"To be honest? It's because your society is the one that offers a sustainable source of resources. Wreckers destroy and consume everything in their path. If we let Hammerhorn have his way, he's going to turn you all into Wreckers and starve everyone to death. There'd be nothing left and the balance will be broken. Arcadia would have to go without or minimal supplies for a whole week. But with our help, you'll stand a fighting chance."

Kevin seriously pondered the offer. He glanced towards the other Builders around him but they were all staring at him for a decision. The reveal was still fresh in his mind so it hurt all the more to realise that Finn was right. Everyone else was looking to him for guidance when it would've been so much better if everyone could think for themselves. But that wasn't the Builder way... and yet it was the _wrong_way...

He lifted his gaze. Lobo was a leader himself, sharp, calculating and certainly brave. He couldn't trust the guy to truly think of the Builders. Gantry had been one of them for so long and yet remained true to the humans. To Kevin, that was the blade of betrayal that cut the deepest. But when he looked to Finn...

... to the honesty in his eyes...

Kevin took a deep breath... In that moment, he felt his Builder instincts start slipping back into his consciousness. It tugged at the corners of his lips, starting to force it back into that complacent smile that he wore so easily. His vision actually started to blur a little and everything seemed to lose focus. The pain of betrayal was soothed by the his natures like a forgiving mother welcoming her rebellious son back into her arms with a warm embrace and gentle pats. It felt so easy to just sink into that mindset again... to shrug and accept the fact as they were and just build.

But then that fire he felt when Finn proposed fighting against Hammerhorn burned through the haze. It was supplemented by the blaze in his heart when Finn had opted to abandon the settlement after they had successfully fought back the Wrecker army. Even the sting of defeat when Hammerhorn broke through the wall jabbed into his heart and broke through the comfort offered. The begrudging sense of brotherhood he received when Finn greeted him and the way that flame of passion reignited in his heart when Finn prompted him for that 'next time' topped of the experience.

He straightened and held out his hand. "I have a few demands."

BAM!

The barricade suddenly erupted. Glass, concrete blocks and wood was sent splintering off in all directions. A thick, visibly grey haze slithered in from the street, coated in the reddish-orange of sunset. Silhouetted against the light and with the dark aura emanating from him...

... was Hammerhorn.

"You really made me work for this," grunted the giant Wrecker. He was panting and with each breath, his massive chest rose and fell. Every exhale pushed the thick grey mist closer and closer to the crowd. "Caught me off guard. But now... Now you're all mine!"

On some unspoken command, that thick mist surged forward. Finn didn't even get a chance to shout a warning before it was shoving itself down his throat and into his lungs. It was like sucking in hot smoke. It hurt all the way down and his body instantly reacted with a blast of pain. He fell to his knees, one hand against his throat and gagging loudly. Like invasive hands, the mist plunged itself into his consciousness and began rattling the cage of the Beast that he had trapped in there.

He felt the Beast lunge at the cages as well, eager to get out.

Finn quickly recalled his training. A quick glance at his wristband reminded him of all the improvements he promised to make in Arcadia. He was reminded of the life he had hoped to build with Marv. And now, the peace that he was going to forge with Kevin.

"We don't belong to anyone!"

His eyes snapped open in surprise; partially because of the cry and partially because he never realised he had shut his eyes in the first place. Concrete shattered and wood splintered. Just ahead of him, Hammerhorn staggered in surprise as the cement cube slammed into his gut, winding him.

Kevin stomped his foot and the noise echoed in the lobby. Finn felt the ground shake beneath his feet. Strength slowly returned to his limbs like he was absorbing the shock and energy from Kevin's stomp.

"Come on!" shouted the Builder. "We're not his to command! We're Builders and we're proud of it!" Again he stomped the ground with a foot.

Thump.

That sharp pain entered Finn's temples again and his heart seemed to stop for the briefest of moments.

"Get up! Fight back!" Kevin roared, stomping his foot over and over again, the rhythmic thumping his rallying cry.

Thump. Thump.

"We're Builders! We make! We don't break!"

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Slowly, other Builders around him even though they were surrounded by the thick grey mist were rising to their feet.

"We're Builders!" Kevin shouted, pumping a fist through the air. "This is where we stand!" He bent down and picked up a concrete block. He threw it boldly at Hammerhorn who swatted it aside with his hammer. But the impact was enough to make him stagger slightly.

"We're Builders!" shouted another Builder, a rhino that Finn did not recognise. "This is our land!"

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Finn found the strength to fully get up to his feet. Behind him, another Builder threw a concrete block at Hammerhorn.

"We're Builders!" the rhino shouted. "And what we make is grand!"

Several other blocks came flying over him, driving Hammerhorn back. Each block came with a defiant, unique cry.

"We're Builders! I'll change the world with this hand!"

"We're Builders! And I can't figure out a word that rhymes with 'hand'!"

A soft laugh erupted from the group as they all began shouting Kevin's clear, concise motto. "We're Builders! We make! We don't break!"

Over and over again, they chanted the mantra, picking up blocks and throwing it straight at Hammerhorn. The sheer number of strikes was enough to drive the giant Beast back. Even when all the spare blocks were exhausted, the Builders began picking up the blocks they had thrown into the tunnel and throwing it at Hammerhorn. Others found what they could find around the lobby to throw. Someone even ripped the 'N' from the NexPharm logo and hand a group of Builders help him throw it.

"This... This is impossible!" shouted Hammerhorn, grunting and grimacing as he was forced back out of the lobby. "How!? You should be running! You shouldn't be fighting! This isn't what Builders are! I was lied to!"

Kevin stood on the threshold of the lobby, stepping over the rubble that Hammerhorn had created. Around him, were the few Builders, probably just ten of them, that stood proudly and with various forms of debris at hand. They stood shorter than Hammerhorn but held themselves infinitely taller. Even as the giant Wrecker stumbled back out into the open and amongst his stunned crew, he held no power over the Builders.

"How can you be fighting!?" Hammerhorn screamed. "How could you resist me!?"

Kevin glanced over his shoulder...

And his heart broke a little when he found Finn and the others who claimed to be humans gone.

A soft smile touched his lips however.

Turning back towards Hammerhorn, a smile touched his lips.

"Things change."

******

349:10:22:19:34:59

The Return Gate was waiting for them in the darkness, bright and shimmering. Someone had already passed through, it seemed. From the fact that only Marv remained, Savage and Anodyne must have already passed through. Finn felt terrible for leaving Kevin back there alone with Hammerhorn but somehow, he knew that the Builder would be fine.

Marv beamed and rushed over to him, giving him a loving kiss.

"Where have ya been?"

"Where do you think?" Lobo answered with a dry smile. "Telling the Builders our secret, forcing me to think quickly so we aren't always under fire every ten weeks... messing with how the way things are. The usual." He shrugged his massive shoulder and wrapped his arm around Finn's shoulder in a proud manner. "I don't know what'll wait for us when we pass through that Gate tomorrow but it sure isn't going to be what we've have for all the time we've been Collectors."

"Well..." Finn began softly. "Maybe it's time to change that."

Gantry huffed loudly and shook his head. "I liked the way things were." Without another word, he passed through the Return Gate, pickaxe in hand.

Lobo shook his head. "Don't mind him. He doesn't really like abrupt change. The way Rock was taken from him... Well..." His smile became genuine as he regarded Finn. "Still, what you did today was pretty stupid. Just for that, you're on the morning patrols tomorrow. Both of you."

Marv's eyes widened. "What did I do!?"

"You didn't stop him. You should've known better."

Whether or not he was joking flew over Finn's head. He didn't get to dwell on it however.

"Finn!"

All three Collectors flinched and spun.

A small group of Builders emerged from the entrance to the park where the Return Gate sat. The grass was wild and overgrown and the pavement had been broken by roots of the ancient trees. It was a true forest within a concrete jungle. But even through it, Kevin and his Builders found them and came rushing over, waving.

"Kevin!" Finn exclaimed, pulling away from the other Collectors. "How'd you find us?"

Kevin, panting just gave him a tired grin. "Are you kidding me? Big glowing doorway into another world? How hard is that to miss?" He looked up at the archway filled with glistening blue light. "I can't believe I never noticed that before..."

Finn shook his head sadly. "It's just how the things were." He set a hand on Kevin's shoulder and gave it a firm shake. "But that's changing now. I bet you can see things a lot clearly now, right?"

Kevin lifted his eyebrows and let out a short laugh. "Yeah... I guess I can. And I have you to thank for that." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. For a moment, he seemed to just go blank but then he blinked his eyes and beamed. "So when are you coming back?"

Glancing over his shoulder at Lobo who just gave him a shrug, he said, "Tomorrow morning."

"Awesome. Come back to the grocery store. We've got a lot to rebuild after Hammerhorn's attack."

Finn's jaw dropped open in surprise. "You drove him off!? That's great!"

Kevin pumped his fist into the air. "We're Builders!"

Those behind him shouted, "We make! We don't break!"

"Wow..." Lobo said softly.

Finn just couldn't keep the proud grin off his face. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow then. I have to get back to my people." He hiked a thumb over his shoulder at the shimmering portal. "As much as I'd love to stay, we both have responsibilities."

A flicker of sadness crossed Kevin's features but he still nodded in understanding. Unwilling to let them part on such bitter terms, Finn reached for his head and plucked his borrowed hardhat. He shoved it roughly onto Kevin's head much to the rhino's surprise.

"You wanted it back at the end of the day, right?" he said with a smile.

Kevin took the hat off his head and regarded it with some degree of awe. Then he shook his head before shoving it back on. "Thanks..."

Finn, grinning, began walking backwards towards the light of the Return Gate. "I might need to borrow it again tomorrow, though!"

******

349:10:23:20:55:10

The camp was eerie quiet. Cross hadn't been at the mess hall but a meal had been left for both Marv and Finn with instructions to go to the Gates as soon as they could. The moment they had passed through the Gate, Lobo had hurried them back to camp to avoid the confused stares of the Collectors and Cultivators. No one spoke until they returned to the Meeting Hall where tempers began to flare.

Some of the more experienced Collectors such as Anodyne, Gantry and a grim Collector Finn had never met called 'Ruin' had been incredibly opposed to Finn's actions. They said that revealing the secret of Arcadia to the Builders jeopardised every deployment into Hornton from that point on. Others, generally those that were younger like the Twins, Vein and Vale and a cheery Collector named 'Skip' thought it actually lowered the danger and it was great idea to have some allies on the other side. The remaining Collectors, Savage, Cross and Lobo amongst them, remained on the fence or didn't contribute to the exchange.

They had sat around the Meeting Hall arguing the pros and cons of the situation. Anodyne had calmly suggested that they pull their resources from Hornton, take back all their supplies and safe boxes and wait out two cycles. Maybe the rhinos would forget about them after five months. Lobo countered by saying that given the amount they ate and the needs of Arcadia, they would never last a week without supplies from beyond a Gate. Suggestions were made to increase the intake from other Gates but that was easier said than done since they had no true storage facilities in the camp.

All through the heated debate, Marv sat by Finn to offer what comfort he could. Finn was more than willing to stand up for his actions but everyone was shouting too loudly and when he tried to speak, he was reminded that he hadn't been 'named' yet and really wasn't an official Collector yet. That sent his courage spiralling down into a pit of despair. Would he end up being kicked out of the Collectors? Was he going to end up just like Josh only the reason for his dismissal was not a crippling injury but his actions?

That thought had driven him away from the Meeting Hall and into bed with Marv holding him tightly. Skip, apparently the youngest Collector before them, poked his head into their hut an hour later. As a human, he had dark brown hair that he wore in a ponytail. A metal band held his ponytail back from his almond shaped eyes. A black, leather belt of some sort was wrapped around his right thigh. He told them to get cleaned up and to meet them at the Gates and that breakfast was at the mess hall.

After a quick bath in the river, Finn headed to the mess hall for breakfast. It was with growing anticipation that he scoffed down the cold porridge. Marv remained silent through it all even as they made the trek through the forest towards the clearing where the Gates sat, perhaps the last time they would make the journey.

There, all the Collectors were standing in a semicircle around the central pool. Everyone was now in rhino form including Skip. They looked so imposing just watching them approach. Finn took a deep breath and braced himself for whatever came his way. He imagined that he'd be forced to ceremoniously 'wash himself' of the Collector taint in the pool before being sent back to Arcadia. Though he wondered how welcome he would be back in the pro-human Settlement.

"Marv, step forward," rumbled Lobo.

Finn almost stepped forward, ready to demand that they spare Marv for his mistakes. But Marv just gave his hand a tight squeeze and strode up to the circle.

"You're a good soldier," Lobo said. "You have excellent discipline and you've picked up on the values of a Collector extremely well. You're also a selfless person, choosing a hobby that could benefit us all instead of just for your own entertainment."

"Hey! You like the pool table too!" Vein - or was it Vale - shouted.

The rest of the group chuckled and Lobo smiled down at Marv. "And it with this in mind that we welcome you to our brotherhood with the name 'Rush'. Do you accept?"

Marv rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hrm... Rush... I like it! Yeah! Count me in!"

The rest of the Collectors cheered and Lobo told Marv to step into the pool with him. Marv was about stomach high in the water while Lobo was just about knee high. Lobo cupped his hands, dipped it into the water and then poured it ceremoniously down Marv's head.

"From this day on, you are a Beast but with a man's heart and mind. You are now a Collector." As the last drops of water left his big hands, Lobo rested his hands on Marv's shoulder. "Welcome to the brotherhood, Rush."

"Rush! Rush! Rush!" the rest cheered.

Rush really was such a fitting name for Marv and Finn felt pride well in his chest as the big, hairy rhino was led out of the pool and guided to stand next to the rest of the Collectors.

"You'll be in Cross' team," Lobo said. "You've already met Cross but I'd like you to meet Crash too." He nodded towards the rhino standing on the other side of Cross, a fairly cute fellow who had a strand of hair braided with beads and hanging down his left side. Finn also couldn't help but notice the cock piercing the guy had.

"Finn, step forward."

His heart pounding his chest, Finn strode up to the pool, pausing just a moment as Lobo got out of the water. If he was being inducted, wouldn't Lobo just remain in the water? Why get out at all? Unless he wasn't being inducted.

"You're reckless, stubborn and have a total disregard for both tradition and our customs," Lobo said, almost growling. "You've jeopardised not only yourselves and other Collectors but also our operations in another land. You've changed the course of history and the path that Arcadia is taking. And -"

Finn shut his eyes, letting out a soft wince as he braced himself for the coup de grace.

"You have a kind, caring soul that sees things that those of us who are stuck in our ways can't."

Slowly, he opened his eyes again. Lobo was smiling warmly down at him.

"Your actions surprised us and we admit, struck us with fear but if peace is truly possible with the Beasts, then we want you to be there building it. You started this mess. Now you've got to finish it."

Finn's eyes widened. "You mean it?"

Lobo laughed softly and waded back into the pool. "I do. We all do."

Finn did a quick glance around the circle. It seemed that only a few truly believed in his actions while the majority trusted Lobo's words about finishing the mess he had created. Vein, Vale and Skip were amongst those who were grinning broadly while Savage offered a thin smile, trying to look stoic. Cross was smiling but whether or not that was because he now had Marv on his team was up for debate. Gantry was amongst those who were glowering despite offering a clearly forced smile.

He knew he'd have to work to earn their trust again.

Slowly, he waded into the water, looking up at Lobo with a proud smile on his face. Just like before, Lobo caught some water in his cupped hands and lifted it over his head. "We welcome you to our brotherhood with the name 'Renegade'. Do you accept?"

Renegade was a little fiercer than he would've liked but it felt fitting in some ways. "I do!"

The water drizzled on his face and Lobo said the words, "From this day on, you are a Beast but with a man's heart and mind. You are now a Collector. Welcome to the brotherhood, Renegade."

He got a cheer, one more subdued than Marv's but it was a cheer nonetheless. He stepped out of the pool with Lobo.

"You'll be in a team with Skip and headed by Savage," Lobo said. "Speaking of which, you're on the first deployment tomorrow."

Finn - Renegade - flinched. "Wait. What?"

Lobo winked at him. "You promised Kevin that you'd see him this morning, remember? You don't want to keep him waiting and make a bad impression, do you?" He nodded towards Skip and Savage as Finn's new teammates approached.

"Don't disappoint us, Renegade."

_ _

******

Director's Report

Metropolis Project

******

There is a line of thinking considering the idea of conformity and individuality and comparing it to a metropolis.

There is a stark sense of conformity when the relationship between people is simply that of a seller and buyer. The relationship solely is quantitative and identical in many ways. When broken down to the simplest of interactions, a seller has the same relationship to Person A as he has to Person B if both Persons buy exactly the same item at exactly the same price. Taken on a higher level, these two people could be conforming to some social stimulus that instils in them the need to purchase this item. On the other hand, there are the extreme individuals who attempt to exert their personality upon one another. Rarely do these individuals come together and form a group but they are considered counterintuitive to the masses, rebels, anarchists and outsiders.

A metropolis has a delicate balance of these. Conformists attempt to convert the Individualists while Individualists attempt to assert themselves in the 'faceless crowd' and attempt to be heard in the hopes that they can turn others to their side. Ironically enough, one cannot truly survive without the other.

Should everyone conform, there will be stagnant growth and no progress. Even the most radical breakthrough would be considered an Individualist idea and likely supressed or forced to go through so much red tape that it will never bear fruit. On the opposite extreme, should everyone become an Individualist, then eventually, one person will have such a magnetic personality, such a compelling arguments, that they would pull other individuals to think like them and eventually become the Conformists all over again.

These are the Builders and Wreckers of Hornton.

The Builders are the Conformists and their counterparts are the Wreckers, the Individualists. But they failed to have this balance where they would become a single metropolis. They were deaf to one another's pleas, blind to each other's views. A metropolis may have this inherent chaos and conflict between two factions but they co-mingle and accept one another, finding a happy medium between each other were they can co-exist. The Builders and Wreckers take conformity and individuality to extremes.

It was with this in mind that I authorised Project Hammer and its counterpart, Project Nail.

Hammer was designed to create that figure that could unite the Wreckers into a single, moving force. It gave them a leader, a goal to strive for and an idea to 'conform' to. They ultimately retained their individuality as can be seen in how many of the Wreckers hesitated when Hammerhorn experienced defeat or when most of his group fled from his group when he retreated against the assault of the united Builders. But Hammerhorn was still their leader, a guiding figure to introduce community amongst them.

Nail was the opposite. It was an attempt to inject individuality into the conformists. Social workers from the Conglomerate were placed into Builder settlements to get to know them and introduce the idea of individual thoughts and personal opinion into their society. Every settlement had a different group attached to them so that each settlement had different ideas instilled. Ultimately, they were all absorbed into the Builder sense of work ethic and forgotten but they were effectively my sleeper agents.

These two projects were run separately minimal knowledge of one another but at the same time entirely reliant on one another. Hammer was doomed to fail. I fully intended to release Hammer on the researchers so that he may rampage across Hornton and cause enough stress on the workers of Nail for them to fully integrate into Builder society, their opinions being taken with them.

The pieces were set but now all that remained was to join the two projects to complete the Metropolis Project. I needed the trigger to have the two finally merge together. It doesn't truly matter which side Arcadia throws its dice because ultimately, I trust in its power to sway both factions to accept the opposite group and prevent complete integration.

The two species can co-exist. With the seeds already planted, _Arcadia_just needed to nourish it and eventually, it would grow to unite Hornton. It would not be the same pinnacle of human ingenuity that it once was but it would certainly be one of many centres of humanity.

Arcadia does not disappoint. Having chosen the Builders' side was, admittedly, the lower of the probabilities and I believed the sexual desire of entering Hornton would drive it towards the Wreckers.

But everything worked out for the best.

In all honesty, I had hoped that Arcadia would be able to spend a full week amongst the Builders to help reinforce their society and prevent them from falling back to their old ways. I still fear that this is a high possibility. A few suggestions have been thrown my way and while I am leery of taking them and breaking the established routine, I am reminded of my own idea of change being good. However, I still need to ensure that everything is far from ideal. Not until the end game.

To this end... I am executing the Horngate Protocol.

...

...I really need to hire a better 'Project Name Guy'.